Nation pays homage to fallen heroes

The coffining of 11 soldiers killed in the Far North Region took place on November 28, 2014 in Yaounde.

Hundreds of military people and civilians who thronged the ceremonial grounds of the Yaounde Military Headquarters Brigade or Quartier Generale in the Ngoa-Ekelle neighbourhood on Friday, November 28, 2014, were all in a mourning mood.

The event was the coffining of the bodies of 11 Non-commissioned Officers as well as rank and file soldiers of ‘Operation Alpha-Emergence’ who died in battle with Boko Haram militants in October and November 2014 in the Far North Region.

The Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo’o, presided over the event on behalf of President Paul Biya. The event was also attended by members of the National Assembly Committee on Defence.

The Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie, Jean Baptiste Bokam, his colleague in charge of War Victims and Ex-servicemen, Koumpa Issa, top military and gendarmerie brass were also in attendance.

As Minister Mebe Ngo’o read out names and proceeded to place decorations of medals of bravery on each of the caskets, relatives wailed helplessly at the grounds.

Receiving the widows and relatives later in his office – still in the presence of the National Assembly Defence Committee members – the Minister expressed the compassion of the whole nation.

He then handed over financial assistance of FCFA 4 million and FCFA 3 million to relatives of deceased Non-commissioned Officers and rank and file soldiers respectively to enable them organise befitting burial ceremonies.

Earlier on at the ceremonial ground, the Commander of ‘Operation Alpha-Emergence,’ Col. Nouma Joseph, in his eulogy, paid glowing tribute to the soldiers who were killed on October 8, 2014 in Zelewet, October 15, 2014 in Amchide and Limani, and November 8, 2014 at Kerawa.