At least 14 civilians, including women, children and elderly residents, were killed in a brutal early-morning attack on Gidado village in Ndu Sub-Division, Donga-Mantung Division, local authorities and community sources confirmed on Wednesday.
According to a statement issued by Adolf Lele Lafrique, Governor of the North-West Region, the attack occurred at around 5:30 a.m. on January 14, 2026, when armed men stormed the village, firing indiscriminately into homes and targeting families as they slept.
While initial official figures cited seven children among the dead, a verified list of victims obtained by MMI confirms that 14 civilians were killed, including nine females, with ages ranging from two years to 70 years old. The youngest victims were two toddlers aged two, while the oldest was a 70-year-old woman.
Identified victims
The deceased have been identified as:
- Raihana Tadi, 2 (female)
- Mohamadou Aminou Dairou, 2
- Nana Khadija Amadou Tadi, 6 (female)
- Asmau Amadou Tadi, 9 (female)
- Basirou Jubairou, 10
- Mohamadou Gaddafi Ali, 11
- Aboubacar Amadou Tadi, 17
- Jamilatou Amadou Tadi, 21 (female)
- Ladifatou Tura, 29 (female)
- Bibba Alhadji Tadi, 39 (female)
- Hajara Alhadji, 48 (female)
- Adama Suli, 50 (female)
- Alhadji Juli, 60
- Adama Alhadji, 70 (female)
Ten other people were injured, including two children currently receiving treatment at the Nkambe Regional Hospital Annex. Authorities say the government is covering the medical expenses of the wounded.
Beyond the loss of life, the assault caused widespread destruction. Six houses and two granaries were burned, along with a vehicle and a motorcycle. Eight motorcycles were stolen, a local mosque was riddled with bullets, and at least 15 cattle were killed, with seven others injured—devastating families who rely on livestock for survival.
In a message to the public, Governor Lafrique expressed deep sorrow and extended condolences to the bereaved families, wishing the injured a speedy recovery and describing the attack as “a grave act of violence against unarmed civilians.” He said security forces had launched an operation to track down those responsible and urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with authorities.
Background: Cameroon’s Anglophone conflict
The attack is being attributed by local and security sources to Ambazonia separatists, amid escalating reprisal violence in parts of Donga-Mantung. Cameroon’s North-West and South-West regions have been gripped by conflict since 2016, when protests over the marginalisation of English-speaking communities escalated into an armed separatist insurgency seeking an independent state known as Ambazonia.
Over the years, civilians have increasingly borne the brunt of the conflict, caught between separatist fighters and the Cameroonian security forces. Communities accused of collaborating with either side have frequently been targeted, leading to cycles of retaliation, displacement and humanitarian crises.
As insecurity persists, Governor Lafrique renewed calls for armed youths still in hiding to lay down their weapons and take advantage of the government’s Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programme, referencing an offer of forgiveness reiterated by the Head of State in November 2025.
The Gidado killings highlight the continued vulnerability of civilians in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, where access for humanitarian actors remains limited and communities continue to suffer from violence, displacement and the destruction of livelihoods.
