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{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict    = Bombanda raid
| partof      = the [[Anglophone Crisis]]
| image       = 
| caption     = 
| date        = 24 October 2024
| place       = Bombanda, [[Meme (department)|Meme]], Cameroon
| result      = Cameroonian victory
| combatant1  = {{flag|Cameroon|size=22px}}
| combatant2  = {{flag|Ambazonia|size=22px}}
| units1 = 6th Regional [[Rapid Intervention Battalion]] (BIR)
| units2 = "Al-Qaeda Squad of Meme"
| commander1 = Onana Gilles Mbarga
| commander2 = Ndiba Lenya Clifford ("General Lucifer"){{KIA}}
| casualties1 = Unknown
| casualties2 = 9 killed
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Anglophone Crisis}}
}}On 24 October 2024, Cameroonian security forces carried out a successful raid targeting the [[Ambazonia]]n [[List of Ambazonian commanders in the Anglophone Crisis|rebel leader]] Ndiba Lenya Clifford (alias "General Lucifer") in Bombanda, a location in the [[Mbonge]] sub-division of [[Meme (department)|Meme department]]. The operation resulted in Clifford's death, alongside eight of his associates. The local population reportedly assisted the security forces in carrying out the aid, and subsequently approved of Clifford's killing.

== Background ==
{{see also|Timeline of the Anglophone Crisis (2024)}}

Since 2017, the [[Northwest Region (Cameroon)|Northwest Region]] and [[Southwest Region (Cameroon)|Southwest Region]] of Cameroon are the site of a civil war known as the "[[Anglophone Crisis]]" between the Cameroonian government and Ambazonian separatists. Meme department in the Southwest Region became one of the insurgency's centers, with various rebel leaders and [[List of Ambazonian militant groups|militias]] operating in the area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cameroon Says Separatists Relaunch Attacks, IED Use After Death of Self Proclaimed General |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/cameroon-says-separatists-re-launch-attacks-ied-use-after-death-of-self-proclaimed-general/6946344.html |author=Moki Edwin Kindzeka |website=Voice of America |date=3 February 2023 |access-date=17 June 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-12/21/c_137690321.htm |title=Cameroon says armed separatist commander among 4 killed in troubled Anglophone zone |website=Xinhuanet |date= 21 December 2018 |access-date= 18 April 2025 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181221184005/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-12/21/c_137690321.htm |archive-date=21 December 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Over time, Ambazonian insurgents increasingly resorted to violent crime, including kidnappings for [[ransom]], to fund their operations. Attacks on civilians also increased.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why the spoils of war may outweigh incentives for peace in Cameroon |url=https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/analysis/2022/07/19/Cameroon-anglophone-crisis-separatism-secession-elusive-peace |author=R. Maxwell Bone |website=The New Humanitarian |date=19 July 2022 |access-date=24 June 2023 }}</ref>

One of the separatist militias in Meme department fell under the leadership of Ndiba Lenya Clifford who adopted the [[pseudonym]]s "General Lucifer"<ref name="actu">{{cite web|url=https://actucameroun.com/2024/10/29/subdivision-de-mbonge-une-dizaine-de-combattants-separatistes-neutralises/ |title=Subdivision de Mbonge: Une dizaine de combattants séparatistes neutralisés |website=Actu Cameroun |date=29 October 2024 |access-date=18 April 2025}}</ref> and "Field Marshall Lucifer".<ref name="mimimefomay132024">{{Cite web |title= Whereabouts of 28, including women and children, unknown after abduction|url=https://mimimefoinfos.com/whereabouts-of-28-including-women-and-children-unknown-after-abduction/ |website=Mimi Mefo Info |date=14 May 2024 |access-date=2024-05-14 |language=en}}</ref> Such self-proclaimed titles and pseudonyms are typical for Ambazonian rebel commanders, used to evoke respect and fear.{{sfn|Nkwain|2022|p=253}} He dubbed his militia the "Al-Qaeda Squad of Meme".<ref name="mimimefomay132024" /> The Cameroonian security forces actively sought to eliminate Clifford. In June and July 2023, raids aimed at killing or capturing him; he was wounded in one clash, but escaped alive. However, an associate named "Commander Yong Money" was killed at Mbonge during these operations.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://cameroonnewsagency.com/three-separatists-killed-in-mbonge/ |title= Three separatists killed in Mbonge  |website=Cameroon News Agency |date= 13 July 2023 |access-date= 18 April 2025 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230714135417/https://cameroonnewsagency.com/three-separatists-killed-in-mbonge/ |archive-date= 14 July 2023 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://theguardianpostcameroon.com/post/1229/fr/meme-military-raid-leaves-three-amba-fighters-dead-in-mbonge |title=Meme: Military raid leaves three Amba fighters dead in Mbonge |website=The Guardian Post |date= 12 June 2023 |access-date= 19 April 2025 }}</ref>

By mid-2024, Clifford's militia became more audacious in its operations. On 8 May, the group attacked a military outpost at Bomana, causing the local security forces to flee. Afterward, the rebels burned the outpost to the ground and released a taunting video in which Clifford (under the alias "Field Marshall Lucifer") mocked the government forces and challenged them to fight him.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ambazonian Separatists Burn Down Abandoned Military Post in Meme |url=https://mimimefoinfos.com/ambazonian-separatists-burn-down-abandoned-military-post-in-meme/ |website=Mimi Mefo Info |date=12 May 2024 |access-date=18 April 2025 |language=en}}</ref> Later that month, the militia kidnapped 28 people from a church in Bai Panya, claiming that these civilians had cooperated with the Cameroonian government by obtaining identity cards and birth certificates to vote in the next Cameroonian elections. According to ''Mimi Mefo Info'', the "Southwest Region remain[ed] in shock" after this mass kidnapping, especially as Clifford indirectly threatened to kill the victims.<ref name="mimimefomay132024" /> The separatist reportedly also imposed taxes on local cocoa traders, harassing or even killing those who did not pay. According to ''The Guardian Post'' and ''Actu Cameroun'', Clifford and his "Al-Qaeda Squad" were increasingly perceived by Meme natives as oppressive and disruptive group, causing the civilians to ask for help from the security forces.<ref name="actu" /><ref name="lucifer">{{cite web |url= https://theguardianpostcameroon.com/post/4609/fr/meme-division-soldiers-send-notorious-amba-general-lucifer-hell |title=Meme Division: Soldiers send notorious Amba 'General' Lucifer, to 'hell' |website=The Guardian Post |date= 30 October 2024 |access-date= 18 April 2025 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250418110359/https://theguardianpostcameroon.com/post/4609/fr/meme-division-soldiers-send-notorious-amba-general-lucifer-hell |archive-date= 18 April 2025 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Raid ==
On 24 October 2024, the 6th Regional [[Rapid Intervention Battalion]] (BIR) acted on the information provided by the local civilians.<ref name="actu" /><ref name="lucifer" /> A contingent of the battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Onana Gilles Mbarga launched a raid, targeting Clifford's hideout and main base in the small settlement of Bombanda in the Mbonge sub-division. The separatists were surprised by the attack and overrun.<ref name="actu" /> Clifford was killed alongside eight associates,<ref name="actu" /><ref name="lucifer" /> including sub-commanders "General Rassman", "General Don Plus", "General Police", "Colonel Viper", "Colonel Doze" and "Commandant Black".<ref name="lucifer" /> Meme's senior divisional officer further stated that the 6th BIR captured 13 weapons, uniforms, and some [[improvised explosive device]]s during the operation.<ref name="actu" /><ref name="lucifer" />

== Aftermath ==
According to ''The Guardian Post'', the defeat of Clifford's militia was greeted with approval by the local population. One cocoa farmer told a radio station that he was finally able to return to tend to his field after the separatists' defeat.<ref name="lucifer" /> Despite Clifford's demise, other separatist leaders continued to be active in Meme department, including at Mbonge. In April 2025, 6th Regional BIR managed to force one of these rebel commanders, "Field Marshal Millipede", to surrender alongside several of his followers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theguardianpostcameroon.com/post/6402/fr/meme-dreaded-amba-fighter-field-marshal-millipede-drops |title=Meme: Dreaded Amba fighter, 'Field Marshal' Millipede, drops arms |website=The Guardian Post |date= 15 April 2025 |access-date= 18 April 2025}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Works cited ===
* {{Cite journal |url = https://www.athensjournals.gr/humanities/2022-9-3-3-Nkwain.pdf |title = Current Insights into the Evolution of Cameroon English: The Contribution of the 'Anglophone Problem' |last= Nkwain |first= Joseph |date = July 2022 |journal = Athens Journal of Humanities & Arts  |volume = 9 |issue = 3 | pages = 233–260 |publisher = Athens Institute for Education and Research (ATINER) |location = Athens }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bombanda, raid in}}
[[Category:2024 in Cameroon]]
[[Category:Anglophone Crisis]]
[[Category:Military history of Cameroon]]
[[Category:Southwest Region (Cameroon)]]