YAOUNDE, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Five Cameroonian soldiers were killed in an attack by separatist fighters on Friday in the country's war-torn Anglophone region of Southwest, according to security sources.
The separatist fighters ambushed and attacked National Gendarmerie soldiers patrolling the locality of Eyumojock in the region, a senior security officer in the region said on condition of anonymity.
Among those killed was the commander of the gendarmerie brigade, and the separatist fighters seized their weapons, the officer added.
Separatist leaders claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, saying that eight soldiers were killed during the raid.
Since 2017, government forces have been in conflict with separatist fighters in Cameroon's two English-speaking regions of Northwest and Southwest, where the separatists seek to establish a breakaway state. ■
