BY ATIA TILARIOUS AZOHNWI AND IKOME CHRISTIE-NOELA EPOSI
The Minister Delegate at the Presidency of the Republic in charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo has announced special benefits for military personnel serving in the troubled North West and South West Regions.
He was speaking at the Buea Independence Square Wednesday, March 7, 2018 as he installed the newly appointed regional bosses in charge of the gendarmerie and that in charge of ex-servicemen.
48-year-old Colonel Tchinda Mbouzikeu Henri was appointed South West Regional Gendarmerie Legion Commander by a February 21, 2018 Presidential Decree. He is a graduate of the 1996 batch of the Cameroon Military Academy (EMIA), where he came out overall best.
Also, 56-year-old Navy Captain Mba Ango Jean was commissioned as the new Ex-Servicemen and War victims Regional Head of Division for the South West Region. He is a brilliant graduate of the French Navy School and integrated in the 1990 batch of EMIA.
Last Wednesday’s installation ceremony unfolded in the presence of both Regional Governors of the Littoral and South West, as well as neighbouring Senior Divisional officers of Wouri and Fako Divisions.
Minister Beti Assomo used the occasion to underscore the urgency of the time which is to defend the integrity of the national territory in the face of a mounting separatist menace. He announced the creation of a 24th infantry battalion in Akwaya in Manyu Division (South West Region) to intensify military presence against ground threat.
The Minister cited some red zones in the South West Region to include Kumba-Mamfe, Nguti-Bangem, and Ekondo Titi as evil tracks and pockets of separatists’ attacks to which the Forces must pay diligent attention. Minister Assomo conducted a minute of silence with attendees at the Buea ceremonial ground in memory of civilians and defence forces who lost their lives in the unfortunate events in the South West.
The Minister Delegate announced the decision of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Paul Biya, to ameliorate living conditions as well as improve on the dues of the defence personnel on assignment in the troubled Anglophone area to begin from April, 2018, pay-out.
The measures, he stressed, were part of President Paul Biya’s vision as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces to optimise the efficiency of the Defence Forces to wither the Boko Haram in the Northern area, armed gangs in the East and Adamawa Regions, armed poachers and highway robbers.