On the evening of Thursday, 16 September 2021, the army spokesman says a convoy of the 6^th Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) on a reconnaissance mission was the target of an ambush of heavily armed terrorists in the locality of Bamessing, Ndop Subdivision, Ngoketunjia Division of the North-West Region.

“Using an improvised explosive device (IED) and an anti-tank rocket launcher (ATRL), the insurgents immobilized the vehicles of the Defence Forces before opening heavy fire on the latter, who were seriously incapacitated by the detonation of the explosive charges,” said Navy Captain Atonfack Guemo in a statement Monday.

“These events are occurring barely a few days after another improvised explosive device attack on another military convoy, on the morning of Sunday, 12 September 2021, on the Kumbo-Tatum axis, Kikaikom locality, Kumbo Subdivision, Bui Division of the North-West Region,” he furthered.

Hear Navy Captain Atonfack Guemo: “The cumulative toll of these attacks is about 15 soldiers and several civilians killed, as well as three vehicles damaged.

“The Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence conveys to the families of the fallen soldiers and civilians, the sincere condolences of the Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, as well as his wishes of quick recovery to the survivors. It should be recalled that this new attack was, like the previous ones, carried out in contempt of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

“Similarly, the use of high-charge explosives against the Defence and Security Forces, as well as civilian populations in urban and peri-urban areas, or even the camouflage in civilian populations or the use of them as human shields is an unspeakable barbarism.

“It should be noted that intelligence services have established with certainty that the resurgence of these terrorist groups, by means of the quality of fire-power they have at their disposal and are systematically using, is largely the result of their joining forces with other terrorist entities operating outside the country’s borders.

“It is thus clear that the coming into play of high-capacity explosives and new weapons undoubtedly enshrines a new paradigm change in ongoing operations, with the Defence and Security Forces having as a mission to do everything possible to restore peace and guarantee the free movement of persons, goods, and capital throughout the national territory.

“In any event, the Cameroonian Army remains determined to eradicate all forms of violence in the North-West, South-West and Far-North Regions, areas in which it is now clearly established there exist sophisticated arm links and exchanges between secessionist terrorists from the North-West and South-West Regions with external violent fundamentalist groups.”

In viral videos on social media, the Marine Force of Bambalang led by separatist general No Pity along with militiamen grouped under the Jaguars of Bamessing claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attack.

In the videos, two armored cars were seen going up in flames.