Omanghana
Thousands of residents have fled their homes in Cameroon’s Far North Region following a suspected jihadist attack that killed at least 15 civilians and triggered a growing humanitarian crisis.
The displacement followed a pre-dawn assault on Thursday, September 17, 2026, in Madegoua, a village in the Makary subdivision near Cameroon’s borders with Nigeria and Chad.
Suspected fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province, a faction linked to the Boko Haram insurgency, reportedly entered the community on motorcycles while residents were asleep.
Local sources said the attackers tied up and killed at least 15 men. The assault is believed to have been retaliation after residents refused an earlier instruction from the militants to leave the strategically located village.
News of the killings spread quickly across surrounding communities, creating panic and forcing families from more than 10 villages to abandon their homes.
Many of the displaced residents travelled by truck, motorcycle or on foot to Waza, where local facilities are struggling to cope with the sudden influx. Thousands of women and children have reportedly sought shelter in public squares and schools.
More than 300 additional residents were said to have travelled south to Maroua, the regional capital, as fears of further attacks continued to spread.
Displaced families have complained about inadequate support since arriving in Waza. Many reportedly lack food, clean drinking water and secure accommodation, while some have been forced to sleep outdoors.
Local health officials have warned that the shortage of essential supplies poses a particular danger to children, pregnant women and other vulnerable people.
Before leaving their communities, some residents had formed civilian vigilante groups to protect their villages from sunset until sunrise. They said repeated militant threats had placed communities under constant pressure and left local volunteers exhausted.
The governor of the Far North Region convened an emergency meeting with defense, security and humanitarian officials on Monday, September 21, to coordinate assistance for displaced families and strengthen protection in vulnerable communities.
Cameroon’s Far North has endured years of violence linked to Boko Haram and its splinter factions. The insurgency has also affected neighboring areas of Nigeria, Chad and Niger, leaving thousands dead and millions displaced across the Lake Chad Basin.
Security analysts say militant factions have increasingly relied on decentralized command structures and cross-border routes to organize attacks, obtain supplies and evade security forces.
Authorities are expected to increase military patrols around Waza, Makary and other threatened communities as humanitarian agencies assess the immediate needs of the displaced population.
Source: Omanghana
