A routine inspection linked to the start of the new school year turned violent in Cameroon’s Northwest Region after the convoy of the Menchum Division’s senior administrative official was ambushed on the way to a school.
The governor was traveling with security personnel as part of an inspection of schools ahead of the new academic year when armed men opened fire on the convoy. A police officer accompanying the delegation was killed in the attack. The incident was followed by the abduction of five teachers from a government teacher-training school in the area. Three women and two men were taken by the armed group, according to local authorities.
The attack occurred in Wum, the administrative center of Menchum Division, where authorities have been working to assess preparations for the reopening of schools. Security incidents have repeatedly disrupted daily life in Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest regions, where an armed conflict has affected communities and public services. The latest attack has added to concerns surrounding the return of teachers and students as the new school year gets underway. Authorities have launched efforts to locate the abducted teachers, while security forces continue to monitor the area following the attack.
