Defense and security forces have launched a man-hunt in the North West Region to track down inmates of the Wum prison, in Menchum Division in Cameroon’s North West region, who were forcefully set free after a gun attack on the detention facility.

According to reports, unidentified gunmen took advantage of the blackout in Wum caused by the absence of electricity supply for over month now.

The gunmen then stormed the prison Tuesday night, open fire and smashed the main door open making it possible for 117 inmates to be set free. Security sources say 30 of them however return to the facility Wednesday morning.

This is the not the first time that a detention facility in Cameroon’s crisis stricken region is being attacked and inmates freed. On Thursday, May 11, 2018, gunmen attacked the Muyuka Central Police Station in the South West region, stole guns and liberated some prisoners. Barely three weeks after the Muyuka Central Police Station incident, have gunmen once again, raided the Bavenga Prison in the same Sub-division thus further compounding the situation.

As authorities battles to bring back the regions to normalcy, security forces in the region continue their attempts to track down the escapees.