By Etienne Nfor Liboh
The aftermath of the nearly decade-long war in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions has seen another episode of brutality, with the killing of 14 Mbororo women and children in Gidado on 14 January 2026. The attack took place in Ndu Subdivision, Donga Mantung Division, in the Northwest Region.
Reports from the scene suggest the attack was a deliberate act by suspected separatist fighters, intended as retaliation for the deaths of their colleagues at the hands of the Cameroonian military. The fighters reportedly believe some Mbororo community leaders aided the military.
The killing of women and children has been widely condemned, with voices across the board urging authorities to seek urgent and lasting solutions to the crisis. The Gidado attack is the latest in a series of killings, lootings, rapes, and ransom-takings that have marked the almost ten years of conflict.
The Mayor of Ndu Subdivision, Alhadji Abdou Kanfon Borno, said: “They came to a place in Ndu subdivision called Gidado, in the Mbandung area, and attacked a Fulani family—killing children under five, killing women, and also killing youths. They killed about 12 youths and wounded many. It is not the first time they have attacked Fulani people. Recently, some Fulani were ambushed again by the Amba terrorists. Some time ago, a youth from Mbandung who was on his way to work at the Cameroon Tea Estate was attacked and killed along the road. On another occasion, they identified three Fulani men in the cattle market, removed them, and shot them dead. The sad thing is that whenever they kill Fulani, there tends to be revenge on the native population, and it is causing us a great deal of distress.”
The mayor also used the opportunity to call on the government and the international community to intervene and protect the Fulani populations, who have suffered greatly since the start of the crisis in the Northwest and Southwest Regions. “They have been targeted all over,” he added.
Northwest Governor Adolphe Lele Lafrique gave further details in an exclusive interview with our Bamenda chief reporter, Etienne Nfor. “The population of Gidado in Ndu Subdivision was shocked early this morning by a heinous attack—a massacre organised by a terrorist group against the population, killing at least 14 people, including seven children aged between two and 11, six women, and one adult. They were all massacred early this morning in that village by that terrorist group. Several houses were burned to ashes, a vehicle and three motorbikes were set alight, and cattle were killed or stolen. We have also been informed by the Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung that at least 14 wounded people were rushed to hospital.
“I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Head of State, to express his deep concern to the people of Donga Mantung Division and to that village, which has been severely affected by this morning’s massacre. I also reassure the entire population of our region, especially those in Donga Mantung Division and the Mbororo community that necessary measures will be taken immediately to restore lasting security to the various communities in the division. The security services have already taken steps to secure the village and neighboring settlements, particularly the Mbororo community.”
At press time, no separatist group had taken responsibility for the attack.
