Society

North West: BIR inaugurates new base in Kumbo to better combat separatist fighters.

SDO of Bui, Menyong Sunday, cutting ribbon to BIR base

The elite force of the Cameroon army, Rapid Intervention Battalion, BIR, has inaugurated a new base in Kumbo, Bui Division of the North West Region. The camp inaugurated by the General Coordinator of the BIR, Colonel Francoise Pelene, is aimed at combating terrorist activities carried out by separatist fighters in the locality.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, which took place April 30 in Kumbo, Colonel Francoise Pelene, said it is imperative for the population to join hands with the defense forces so as to facilitate a return to normalcy in the hitherto separatist stronghold

“We are here to secure the people, in order to bring peace again here. What we are asking the population now is to become actors of their security. We are not asking them to take up weapons against terrorists, but at least to provide us with the right information, at the right time; so that, we can do our work,” he pleaded.

He added that: “We are also asking them to tell their brothers, sisters, parents, and uncles, who have lost their way to come back. The Head of State has given them an option to come back peacefully by joining the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration programme. By doing so, they have an opportunity to reintegrate into society in a good way”.

**General Coordinator of BIR, Colonel Francois Pelene, talking to the press**

On his part, the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, of Bui, Menyong Sunday Gilbert, described the construction of the new BIR Camp as a major booster towards bringing back peace in the Division, which is hard-hit by the ongoing socio-political crisis.

“This ceremony is coming up at a time when the population of Kumbo and Bui Division at large is yearning for the return of peace and normalcy. So this camp is an assurance of the fact that their security is being taken into account by the state. This gives hope that in the days ahead, things will never be the same again,” Menyong said.

He went further to call on the population of Bui Division to give a helping hand and collaborate with the security forces to help bring an end to terrorist activities in the area.

“I want to call on my people to continue to work hand in glove with the defense and security forces, because they are here for their security. So it is our duty to give them that support that is necessary to achieve this mission,” he reiterated.

“Bui Division has suffered enormously as a result of the ongoing socio-political crisis, but I think there is a great improvement and we know that we will get there,” he affirmed.

Since the start of the crisis in the English-speaking regions of the country, the government has continued to set up military bases in the crisis-stricken areas so as to facilitate an end to the crisis.