10 killed in military offensive in Cameroon

At least ten people were killed in an offensive by Cameroon's military against armed separatists in the restive English-speaking Northwest Region, reported Xinhua, quoting local and security forces.

The attack took place in the village of Big Babanki in the region and lasted from Friday night to Saturday.

The army said those killed were armed separatists who abducted, tortured and later released dozens of women in the locality last month. The separatists denied the allegations on social media, stressing that the deceased were civilians known by the locals and not fighters.

A resident of the village, who asked not to be named, told Xinhua by phone that hundreds of people in the village fled to the bush as the offensive unfolded.

The separatists, who have been in conflict with government forces since 2017, hope to establish an independent nation in the two English-speaking regions of Northwest and Southwest.