Wum prison break

The Wum prison break took place on September 25, 2018, when Ambazonian separatists attacked a prison in Wum, Northwest Region, Cameroon. The attack was the third of its kind since the start of the Anglophone Crisis,[1] and was connected with separatist efforts to block the 2018 Cameroonian presidential election from being held in the territory of former Southern Cameroons.[2]

Wum prison break
Part of the Anglophone Crisis
DateSeptember 25, 2018[1]
Location
Wum, Northwest Region
Result Ambazonian victory
Belligerents
 Cameroon  Ambazonia
Units involved
N/A Tigers of Ambazonia[2]
Strength
Prison guards Unknown

Prison break

The attack was reported to have taken place at approximately 10pm, although leader of the Tigers of Ambazonia (TTA) Nchia Martin Achuo stated that it took place at 4am. Achuo claimed that the purpose of the attack was to set free innocent people who had recently been arrested.[2]

The separatist fighters were reported to have been heavily armed, and managed to overwhelm the prison guards after a heavy shootout.[1] Following the attack, the Cameroonian government confirmed that around 100 prisoners had escaped. The TTA claimed that the exact number was 106.[2] A day later, another source adjusted the number to 117.[3]

Aftermath

Following the prison break, Cameroon launched a military crackdown in the area, as well as a man-hunt across Menchum to capture the fugitives. According to the military, 30 of the inmates were re-arrested within a day.[3] To prevent future prison breaks, Cameroon also accelerated its effort of moving inmates from smaller prisons to the central prison of Bamenda.[1]

References
  1. Cameroon: at least 100 prisoners escape after separatist stage prison break in Wum, Journal du Cameroun, Sep 26, 2018. Accessed Oct 11, 2020.
  2. Cameroon separatists free 100 prison inmates before election, Reuters, Sep 28, 2018. Accessed Oct 11, 2020.
  3. Security forces begin man-hunt to track detainees after Wum prison break, Journal du Cameroun, Sep 27, 2018. Accessed Oct 11, 2020.
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