Ambazonia ‘General’ Die Man flees as military raids hideout

The Cameroon military has raided and destroyed the hideout of the self-proclaimed Ambazonia General, Die Man, who has been operating in Besali village and other parts of Lebialem Division, South West Region.

Agbor Oscar, who calls himself General Die Man, ran for his life as the army closed in on his enclave at Tchougi, in Wabane Subdivision, on September 28.

Elements of the Rapid Intervention Battalion stationed in Alou, Lebialem, who led the operation, also seized some weapons and ammunition.

The attack came two days after the separatists’ Independence Day commemoration on October 1.

The commander of the Sixth BIR Unit headquartered in Kumba, Major Onana Gilles, said a number of arms and ammunition were seized from the Amba fighter’s hideout.

These include three AK-47s, four M21 guns, two battery chargers, two mobile phone assemblies, a crank, a hammer, four screwdrivers, 13 explosives, and an Ambazonia flag.

Other items recovered from the operation include a pair of handcuffs, two batteries, one remote control, five harnesses, four civilian backpacks, two T-shirts of the Ambazonia Liberation Force, three military-type boots, seven mats, 13 boot conductors, four mosquito catchers, three pairs of knee pads, two pairs of elbow pads, amongst others.

Major Onana further stated that the operation in Tchougi, which was one of the strongholds of separatist fighters in Lebialem, “will greatly reduce their actions in the area”.

The military raid on ‘General’ Die Man was the latest of several separatist hideouts the Cameroon army has dislodged in the last few weeks as the government intensifies efforts to eradicate separatist fighters in the two English-speaking regions.

Separatists have also launched serious attacks on the army recently and are believed to have killed a number of military officers in the last few weeks.

Whereabouts Of ‘General’ Die Man

There have been conflicting reports on the whereabouts of the self-styled General Die Man of Lebialem after the recent military raid. Some sources in Lebialem claim he fled to Nigeria after he was tipped off about an impending military raid on his hideout.

The notorious fighter, who hails from Besali village in Wabane, has escaped capture by the Cameroon military on several occasions.

He went underground for several months before resurfacing again after the military killed his main ally, the once popular ‘General’ Ayeke, in 2020.

At the moment, his location is unknown, but it is certain he is alive and has sought refuge in other separatist camps.

On October 1, a video surfaced on social media showing the self-proclaimed general in a location said to be in the Manyu Division of the South West.

“Today is our independence day. This is the Ambazonia Liberation Army led by General Die Man,” a voice could be heard in the video showing a handful of armed fighters and the civilian population.

Die Man has been noted for attacking state institutions and security forces and kidnapping for ransom. His displacement could provide great relief to the population of Wabane Subdivision.