YAOUNDE, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- At least four separatist fighters, including two commanders, have been killed in a military offensive in Cameroon's restive Southwest region, security sources said Sunday.

Government forces ambushed and attacked the fighters late Saturday in the Maumu locality of the Anglophone region, said a regional military official.

"After receiving tips from our sources on the ground, our brave soldiers ambushed the separatist terrorists who were on a regular patrol and terrorizing civilians. They tried to escape, but our professional forces neutralized them," the official, who asked not to be named, told Xinhua by phone.

"Two of the four separatist terrorists were responsible for killing two civilians in an overnight shooting last month in the town of Buea. We will continue to secure the regions and secure civilians," the official added.

Cameroon has deployed additional forces to the war-torn English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions as the country prepares to hold presidential elections in October.

Government forces have been clashing with separatist fighters in the regions since 2017. Separatists want to create an independent nation in the regions. ■