After the beginning of the Anglophone Crisis, Ambazonian rebels began to operate in the Northwest Region's department Bui whose center is Kumbo.

The separatists enjoyed some advantage in the area as its mountainous terrain and poor infrastructure made it difficult for the security forces to clear them out.

[9] Bui's Senior Divisional Officer, Lanyuy Harry, claimed that the rebels disrupted economic activity in the area, and implored the Cameroon Armed Forces to drive them away.

[3] Security forces conducted house-to-house sweeps, tried to clear roads of improvised explosive devices, and sought out rebel bases in the forested mountains.

[3] Furthermore, the military claimed to have eliminated "General Spider"[1] and a number of rebel sub-commanders such as "Bui Stars", "Mensah", and "Tanga".

[1] Both sides attacked civilians and burnt houses;[8] locals accused the Cameroonian soldiers of widespread looting and various other abuses.

[2] The Fon of Nsem fled his palace in the face of the government offensive, and was subsequently accused by Col. Alain of being a rebel supporter.

[7][16] The Cameroon Armed Forces admitted the death of four soldiers,[1] while declaring that it had successfully reduced the rebel presence and killed at least seven separatists.

[3][2] The military presented some loot to the press, including "ten motorbikes, five AK-47 rifles, dane guns, charms, gallons of contraband fuel, equipment used in manufacturing improvised explosive device".