Cameroon pays hommage to fallen soldiers

The nation has paid tribute to Lieutenant-Colonel Beltus Kwene, Captain Emmanuel Yari and four other soldiers who died in battle in different combat operations against the terrorist group Boko Haram in the Far North Region of Cameroon.

The military parade to pay hommage to fallen colleagues that ushered the caskets of the six soldiers at the esplanade of the Military Head Quarters Brigade in Yaounde provoked weeping and mourning amongst relatives.

Colleagues, family members, friends and sympathisers could not hold their tears as the caskets of the young and brave soldiers preceded their photographs at the Esplanade.

The caskets of each of the fallen soldiers were covered with the national flag and were placed side by side in front of a waving national flag, illustrative of the recognition of their bravery in the fight against the barbaric acts of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

The soldiers were part of the Alpha and Emergence 4 operations deployed in the Far North region as Cameroon’s contribution to the Multi-National Joint Task Force to weed out the terrorists.

Cameroon’s most senior officer to die so far in the combat operations against Boko Haram, Lieutenant-Colonel Beltus Kwene was commander of the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) for the south zone of operations in Kolofata in the Mayo-Sava division. He died at the age of 39 from wounds sustained after his vehicle was hit by a land mine after a successful operation against the terrorist.

Lieutenant-Colonel Beltus Kwene was post humously decorated with the Cross of Valour of the Cameroon Military. He was decorated by the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence on behalf of the Head of State.

Captain Emmanuel Pipwoh Yari died on February 11, 2016, at the age of 31, during an operation carried out Cameroon’s special forces in Ngoshe on Nigerian territory under the auspices of the Multi-National Joint Task Force to fight Boko Haram. The Captain and the other four soldiers also received medals of valiance post humously.

Eulogies at the ceremony to pay hommage to the brave soldiers were read by Colonel Joseph Nouma, Commander of Operation Alpha. He presented the six brave soldiers as, “heroes of modern times just like all those who at the sound of the clarion stood against the nightmarish Islamist. He also promised that the sacrifices of the six men will not be in vain.

The Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo, who presided at the ceremony in the presence of top military officers, colleagues of the soldiers’ parents, relatives and friends inclined in front of the caskets as a sign of honour before consoling the families.

At the rhythm of the military band, the caskets were conveyed out of the courtyard of the Military Head Quarters Brigade for burial in their respective villages.