By NOELA EBOB BISONG
Following Presidential decree No 2019/303 of 17 June 2019, a National Day of Mourning was declared by President Paul Biya, to mourn the death of 17 soldiers killed recently in the Far North region of the country.
The National Day of mourning took place on Friday June 21, 2019, during which flags nationwide as well as Cameroon’s embassies abroad were flown at half mast in honour of the fallen soldiers, who died following a gun battle with Islamic militants of the Boko Haram group on the night of Sunday June 9, breaking Monday June 10, 2019. The incident took place in the DARAK locality of the Logone and Chari Division in the Far North region of Cameroon.
Following a statement by the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Assomo Beti Joseph last June 10, in the course of the attack, Cameroon suffered the loss of 16 of its veritable soldiers, as well as eight civilians, while eight injured soldiers and one civilian are currently receiving medical attention following injuries sustained in the course of the gun battle.
It would appear that one of the wounded soldiers later gave up, increasing the number of military deaths to 17, as stated by the Presidential decree of Monday, June 17.
Another Presidential Decree No 2019/304 of 17 June 2019 reads that the deceased soldiers have been honoured with a medal of bravery according to the order of the Army. They include; Major Baleng David Bertin, Ajang Fidelis Aduck, Bawe Maurice Nfoa, Kagana Benjamin, Kiambeh Felix Biambeh, Mamoudou Gambo, Djondo James, Mawouli Jean, Eloundou Arnaud Claude, Ngwafor Mohamed, Ambeh Abraham Foruwa, Kwamo Jefferson Clinthon, Maton Ngaman Parfait, Minlend Nyobe, Minsoko Giresse Armand, Ndive Lawrence James and Ngolle Solomon.
The Beti Assomo statement had also read that Boko Haram lost 64 fighters, alongside eight captured, their three boats destroyed while others injured were on the run.
In Limbe, like elsewhere in the country, flags were observed to be at half mast last Friday, June 21, in conformity with the Presidential decree declaring the National Day of mourning. Across the Nation, military honours were given to the fallen soldiers in their regions of origin, with a solemn ceremony in Yaounde chaired by Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Assomo Beti Joseph to pay homage to the fallen soldiers. It should be recalled that barely few days after the bloody gun battle in the Logone and Chari Division in the Far North region of Cameroon, a reportedly locally made bomb claimed the lives of four police officers in Manyu division, with five injured, when their vehicle exploded in Otu. The Boko Haram insurgency in Cameroon’s Far North region as well as the armed conflict in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon continue to throw the nation in sorrow.