A Cameroonian soldier, identified as Mouliom Simon, was killed on Sunday following an improvised explosive device (IED) attack attributed to Ambazonia separatist fighters near Mile 12 Bafia in Muyuka Subdivision, South West Region.
The incident occurred as government forces conducted a security operation between Muyuka and Muyenge. Separatists are increasingly targeting this route with concealed IEDs.
Military Operation and Casualties
Since Friday, soldiers have been trekking along known separatist routes between Muyuka and Muyenge, deploying equipment to detect and neutralise IEDs. The patrol came under attack near Mile 12 Bafia. It therefore resulted in the death of Mouliom Simon and injuries to several other soldiers.
Following the incident, military personnel used commandeered motorcycles to transport the bodies of the deceased and injured to their barracks for medical attention.
Security Response and Civilian Arrests
Following the attack, the military conducted mass arrests in Bafia, detaining dozens of civilians and transferring them to military barracks for questioning. The reasons for the detentions have not been officially disclosed, but local sources suggest they are part of ongoing investigations related to the IED ambush.
Seven military vehicles and an ambulance from Buea later arrived in Bafia to recover the soldier’s remains and support the ongoing security operation.
Continued Military Patrols Amid IED Threats
The Cameroon military has intensified patrols in the region as part of a broader strategy to dismantle separatist networks and secure transport corridors. Despite the risks posed by hidden explosive devices and ambushes, government forces continue to sweep rural routes in search of weapons and rebel activity.
Security analysts note that the use of IEDs by separatists marks an evolving threat in the ongoing Anglophone crisis, with increasing implications for military strategy and civilian safety in conflict-affected zones.
Background
The Anglophone conflict in Cameroon, now in its ninth year, has seen repeated confrontations between government forces and armed separatist groups seeking independence for the country’s English-speaking regions. The use of asymmetric tactics, including IEDs, has complicated military operations and raised humanitarian concerns in affected communities.
