The attack was the third of its kind since the start of the Anglophone Crisis,[1] and was connected with separatist efforts to block the 2018 Cameroonian presidential election from being held in the territory of former Southern Cameroons.

Achuo claimed that the purpose of the attack was to set free innocent people who had recently been arrested.

[2] The separatist fighters were reported to have been heavily armed, and managed to overwhelm the prison guards after a heavy shootout.

[1] Following the attack, the Cameroonian government confirmed that around 100 prisoners had escaped.

[3] Following the prison break, Cameroon launched a military crackdown in the area, as well as a man-hunt across Menchum to capture the fugitives.