- At least five Cameroonian soldiers were killed in Bakinjaw by suspected Nigerian herdsmen, who attacked a military post near the border
- The assault was reportedly in retaliation for an earlier incident where Cameroonian soldiers killed several herdsmen, escalating cross-border violence concerns
At least five Cameroonian soldiers were killed on Friday in Bakinjaw, a village in Cameroon’s South-West Region near the Nigerian border.
The attackers, suspected to be herdsmen from Nigeria, crossed the border from Taraba State and launched an assault on a military post in the village.
This information was confirmed by Aka Martin Tyoga, a member of parliament for the district, during a statement to Reuters on Saturday.
According to Tyoga, the attack was in retaliation for an earlier incident in which Cameroonian soldiers killed several herdsmen.
The traditional ruler of Bakinjaw, Agwa Linus, corroborated the report and revealed that the assailants also set fire to his home.
“This isn’t the first time they’ve attacked. It’s very unfortunate,” the monarch said.
The attack has heightened concerns over cross-border violence between Nigeria and Cameroon, particularly in regions prone to tensions involving herders and local communities.