Deadly IED Attack Near Ikata Leaves Two Soldiers Dead, Undermining Hopes of Calm in Southern Cameroons
Muyuka, May 5, 2025 — Two soldiers from the 21st Motorized Infantry Battalion have been confirmed dead, and three others are critically injured, after their armored vehicle was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) earlier today near Ikata village in the Muyuka Subdivision, about one kilometer from the Bafia Military Base.
Initial reports attributed the deadly attack to fighters of the Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF), one of the main separatist militias fighting for the independence of Southern Cameroons or Ambazonia. Although official confirmation is pending, military sources indicate that separatist activity in the area has surged in recent weeks.
The soldiers were reportedly returning from a mission in the area when the device, likely remotely detonated, ripped through their armored transport, leading to an immediate firefight before reinforcements could arrive. The injured soldiers have been evacuated to military medical facilities for emergency treatment. Their conditions remain critical.
Today’s attack comes at a particularly sensitive time. In recent months, government officials and pro-Cameroon apologists had expressed cautious optimism, suggesting that the intensity of the conflict was finally diminishing after more than seven years of brutal fighting. The relative quiet in some parts of the North West and South West Regions had been cited as evidence of a return to “normalcy.”
However, today’s incident starkly contradicts that narrative and underscores the fragility of the situation on the ground. Analysts point out that while direct confrontations had seemingly decreased in some urban areas, separatist groups have adapted their tactics — relying more heavily on guerrilla warfare methods such as IEDs, ambushes, and targeted assassinations.
“This attack is a grim reminder that the conflict is far from over,” said Dr. Ekema B., a political analyst specializing in Central African conflicts. “While some areas have seen fewer clashes, the capacity and determination of armed groups to strike military targets remain strong. Efforts at pacification are being outpaced by localized insurgent strategies.”
Residents of Ikata and surrounding villages report that military patrols have intensified since the incident, and fears of reprisals or heavy-handed security operations are rising among the civilian population — a pattern that has repeated itself throughout the course of the conflict.
The war in Southern Cameroons, which erupted in 2017 following protests against marginalization of the Anglophone minority, has evolved into a complex and bloody struggle. Despite government crackdowns and fragmented peace efforts, separatist groups have maintained significant operational capability, particularly in rural and semi-urban zones.
Today’s attack will likely reignite debates over the effectiveness of the Cameroonian government’s “Grand National Dialogue” initiative, launched in 2019 but widely criticized for failing to address the root causes of the Anglophone crisis. Meanwhile, separatist factions, despite internal divisions, continue to draw support from segments of the local population and the diaspora.
As families mourn the latest casualties, and soldiers brace for potential escalations, the events near Ikata serve as a sobering reminder: peace remains elusive in Southern Cameroons, and assumptions of a “return to normal” may be dangerously premature.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
