Military sources have confirmed the deaths of three Cameroonian soldiers. Initially, reports indicated the death of one soldier. The incident happened during a Boko Haram attack on the locality of Hile-Alifa in the early hours of May 6. The night raid, which lasted from approximately 2 a.m. to 4 a.m., also left six soldiers seriously injured and resulted in the theft of military weapons and destruction of property.
Victims Identified
The soldiers killed in the attack have now been officially identified as, Njoumé Ebongué, Zamsia Vincent and Mahamat Alfa
The six wounded soldiers are Prosper Abeng, Zouyabeb Frédéric, Ebiané François Ninong, Arouna Ibrahim, Nzepieng Dingo, and Kilwé Jean. They were evacuated to the Makary District Hospital and are currently receiving intensive medical care.
Weapons Stolen, National Symbol Targeted
According to military sources, the attackers seized three heavy weapons during the operation, including two 12.7 mm machine guns and an 81 mm mortar, along with a substantial quantity of ammunition.
Before retreating, the militants reportedly set fire to the Cameroonian national flag and destroyed the flagpole in the locality. This is an act considered by local officials to be a direct challenge to state authority.
Municipal Infrastructure Targeted
The assault also targeted vehicles belonging to the mayors of Hile-Alifa and Darak, both of which were destroyed. The raid marks a continuation of Boko Haram’s strategy of destabilising border communities and seizing military equipment.
Security forces have launched a search operation in the surrounding area in an effort to track down the attackers and recover the stolen weapons. Local officials are urging heightened vigilance, particularly in the Logone and Chari division, which has witnessed a resurgence in attacks in recent months.
Escalating Violence Across Regions
The Hile-Alifa attack came less than 24 hours after a separate incident in Cameroon’s South West Region, where two elite Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) soldiers were killed and three others injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) near Ikata village in Munyenge.
Together, the attacks point to the dual security challenges Cameroon faces. These are the insurgency by Boko Haram in the north and separatist violence in the Anglophone regions.
No official national-level statement has been released yet regarding either incident.
