Boko Haram Attack: 15 Killed, Far Cameroon

Several villagers in Cameroon’s Far North have fled following an attack in Madegoua village in which at least 15 individuals lost their lives.

The attack occurred around 2 am on September 17, 2026, in Madegoua, near Makary in Logone-et-Chari. According to local sources quoted by Reuters, an armed group attacked the village and dragged some individuals from their houses, tied them, and killed them. While initially 13 people had been confirmed dead, two more victims who were injured in the attack died in the hospital.

Attack in Madegoua: What Happened?

The attack occurred on sleeping residents, and a local vigilante member and an administrative source informed Reuters about the killings. Meanwhile, Cameroon’s Defence Ministry disclosed that around 10 ISWAP members carried out the attack using motorcycles.

According to the statement from the government, 13 civilians were killed on the spot, and one person was killed later after he was taken for treatment. According to the statement, there were also two people seriously injured. The statement by Cameroon indicated that the troops from the Multinational Joint Task Force came from Makary following an alert and conducted the search mission.

It is noted that initially no armed group claimed responsibility for the attack. Reuters quoted a security analyst who believes that the attack was most likely conducted by the armed group called Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Residents Leave Villages for Kousseri, Mora and Waza

The attack led to the departure from their houses of residents of more than 10 villages located nearby. It is mentioned in an Al Jazeera report, based on the RFI, that several hundred people left for Kousseri, while some people went to Mora and Waza, which are towns near the Nigeria border.

According to the information, displaced people were traveling on foot, by motorcycles, and in trucks. People who arrived in Waza were sleeping in the open air or in the schools, as indicated.

News channels reported statements made by a health worker in Waza, who claimed that the displaced were terrified and did not have enough food and security. It was also noted that women and children among the displaced did not have enough food for several days.

Reasons Why the Far North is Vulnerable to Violence

Cameroon’s Far North is bordered by Nigeria and Chad and belongs to the broader Lake Chad Basin, in which Boko Haram and ISWAP have been conducting their attacks for many years.

There have been numerous cases of murders, kidnappings, and displacement despite military intervention in the area conducted by Cameroon and other neighbouring countries. Cameroon is a member of the Multinational Joint Task Force, which is a regional security structure created to fight against armed groups around Lake Chad.

The latest incident adds another factor to a humanitarian crisis in the northern parts of Cameroon.

What Next?

There is an immediate need to protect the displaced communities and ensure security at Madegoua and the surrounding villages.

The presence of the displaced in places like Waza puts additional burden on food, shelter, and healthcare. Any continued displacement will cause additional problems for those who have been accommodating the people for years now as a result of the conflicts.

The incident at Madegoua illustrates the security risk in the Lake Chad region of Cameroon and the humanitarian implications of having rural communities leave their homes.