Cameroon attackers kill police officer and kidnap five teachers

Armed attackers killed a police officer and kidnapped five teachers during a raid on a teacher training centre in Wum, located in Cameroon’s Northwest Region. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning, approximately 80 kilometres north of Bamenda.

Northwest Governor Adolphe Lele Lafrique reported that the armed individuals infiltrated the facility and opened fire on a police officer who attempted to intervene, killing him instantly. The attackers then fled with the five teachers to an unknown location. Security forces are currently conducting searches to locate the perpetrators and the victims.

The attack is part of a decade-long conflict in Cameroon’s two English-speaking regions between government forces and separatist groups. The unrest, which escalated following a 2016 crackdown on protests by teachers and lawyers, has resulted in significant casualties and displacement. The United Nations estimates that at least 6,000 people have died since 2016, with hundreds of thousands of people internally displaced or having fled to neighboring countries.