dakar anglophone secessionists cameroon kill least two gendarmes wednesday two secessionist leaders security official say signal escalation protract dispute central government attack english-speaking city bamenda mark bad fight recent years secessionist militants government force central african state year mostly peaceful protest anglophone lawyers teachers launch demonstrations year ago see marginalization english-speakers president paul biya government northwest southwest regions force work french harsh crackdown state force include use helicopter gunships fire civilians kill dozens people bolster support once-fringe separatist movement ahead presidential elections 2018. cho ayaba lead member ambazonian govern council separatist body establish create independent state call ambazonia say secessionist militants kill three gendarmes two coordinate attack bamenda capital predominantly english-speaking northwest region cameroonian security source report deaths two gendarmes overnight attack near bamenda one senior military official blame secessionists another source say gendarmes ambush arm men motorbike cameroon government spokesman chief police could reach immediately comment ayaba say members ambazonian defence force arm wing separatist movement kill two gendarmes first attack around a.m. 0100 gmt checkpoint near bamenda airport third kill ambush gendarme patrol unit bamenda suburb hour late carry action say ayaba security force target continue attack go another separatist leader confirm account cameroon linguistic divide hark back century league nations decision split former german colony kamerun ally french british victors end world war one secessionist movement exist decades underground recently start gain widespread support english-speaking northwest southwest response government repression protest hundreds anglophone cameroonians sweep mass arrest follow violent demonstrations oct. least 5,000 flee crisis neighbor nigeria cameroon separatists kill least two gendarmes anglophone dispute escalate