By DOH JAMES SONKEY
Communication Minister and Government Spokesperson, Issa Tchiroma Bakary has vehemently rejected claims that government has resolved to use war as a solution to the socio-political crisis in the North West and South West Regions. He made the clarification last December 18, 2018 at a press conference he granted in Yaounde to update public opinion on confrontations between Forces of Law and Order and secessionists movement in Manyu Division in the South West Region.
Asked if government has finally concluded that it will use only force to solve the Anglophone crisis, Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary responded that “No, it is not the option of the government but it was forced to do so. Remember that the President of the Republic was clear enough in his declaration that the war is being waged against secessionists who are terrorizing the population in the North West and South West regions. Government will continue to promote dialogue in its quest to look for lasting solutions to the crisis so that peace and serenity can be restored in these two regions.”
While expressing optimism that government will win the war against the terrorists, Minister Tchiroma promised that they will use all means possible including diplomatic ones in order to convince secessionists to give up the struggle and return home.
He told the media that, category 3 forces carried out dismantling operations destroying secret training camps and hideouts of secessionist forces in the dense forest at the border with Nigeria and liberated villages previously taken hostage and seized weapons. The Government Spokesperson explained that “No civilian or military death or casualty was recorded during these missions, which, it must be emphasized, were carried out with exemplary professionalism by our Defence Forces. On the enemy side, many terrorists have been permanently neutralized. Several suspects have been arrested; large quantities of war and hunting weapons as well as hundreds of military ammunition and uniforms have also been seized. On the same occasion, transmission and optical equipment, as well as large stocks of propaganda media, were recovered. Exhibition and parade sites on which the terrorists had hoisted their banners were also taken back and sanctuarized.”
He extended President Paul Biya’s condolences to bereaved families of four gendarmes who “were cold-bloodedly killed on December 18, 2017 in Kembong, Eyumodjock Subdivision in the Manyu Division.”
While reassuring the population of the NW and SW regions that the entire nation share in their pains, Issa Tchiroma stated that the Head of State, Commander- in-Chief of the Army has reiterated to the Cameroonian people, his determination to restore peace, security and serenity wherever need be throughout the national territory.