At least 100 prisoners escaped last night in Wum, Menchum Division of the North West region after suspected separatist fighters attacked the prison on Tuesday night, sources say.

According to sources in Wum, heavily armed men stormed the prison after 10pm prompting a heavy exchange of gunshots with the security forces on guard which led to the prison break.

Last night’s incident has led to a military crackdown in the locality as soldiers have launched a crack down in localities suspected to be hosting the separatist fighters.

Sources say several houses have been set ablaze in Weh on Wednesday afternoon prompting many locals to flee into the bushes for refuge.

The prison break in Wum is the third in the North West Region after the attacks on the prisons in Ndop and Bali. This has prompted the transfer of several prisoners to the Central prison in Bamenda.