BIR Inaugurates Two New Bases in South West

The Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) of the Cameroon army has inaugurated two new bases in the country’s South West Region to counter separatists who have been seeking an independent state out of the Anglophone Regions.

The bases were inaugurated over the week in Nguti, Kupe Manenguba Division, and Alou in Lebialem Division, by the Controller and Inspector General of the BIR, Colonel Belinga Henri.

The BIR base in Nguti aims to boost security along the Kumba-Mamfe road, a vital infrastructure linking Cameroon and Nigeria.

Local officials say separatist groups have recurrently targeted traders and other road users along this stretch for violating lockdown calls.

The Cameroon military has also been attacked severally by separatists loyal to a self-proclaimed “General Transporter”.

The Nguti population, speaking to CRTV Buea, were optimistic that the new BIR base will curb frequent harassments, kidnappings and ghost towns imposed by separatist fighters.

“I am happy because the BIR is here. We now feel very safe. We can go out and come back anytime now because the BIR are there to secure us,” a resident said.

Cost of Anglophone Crisis

An official of the Nguti Council regretted the cost of insecurity and how it has shattered development in the municipality.

“Since the outbreak of the socio-political crisis in 2016, we have experienced little to no peace. Property and livestock have suffered destruction, and job losses have occurred due to the closure of some agro-industrial firms. Kidnapping and hostage-taking have run rampant, creating ghost towns that severely impact local entrepreneurs, commuters, and traders. Schools have closed, directly affecting students and parents. The family fabric and social cohesion have weakened, and Council activities have also faced disruptions,” he regretted.

He hoped that a permanent BIR base would reverse the trend of insecurity.

Residents of Alou, one of Lebialem’s three Municipalities, also shared similar sentiments with the coming of the BIR.

Lebialem has been one of the hotspots of separatist activities since the Anglophone Crisis started in 2016.

The area once housed powerful separatist groups, including the Red Dragons of Lebialem, whose leader Oliver Lekeaka was killed in July 2022.

Call for Cooperation

The BIR Controller, Colonel Belinga Henri, said Nguti was chosen to host their new base because of its strategic location along the vital Kumba-Mamfe road.

He appealed for cooperation from the local population.

“They have to cooperate to help us to give them, and provide good security. Don’t have to hide these bad guys in the bush. They just give intelligence or information and we carry out the operation,” he said.

The Senior Divisional Officer of Nguti, Etengeneng Kevin Oben, lauded the population’s enthusiasm towards the BIR.

“My impression is self-evident from the turnout of the population, especially the traditional authorities, the dance groups. So whenever the population comes out massively like this, it shows that they are in unison, and it shows that there’s collaboration between the population and the BIR, which is a very, very good thing,” he said.

The Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) is an elite force in the Cameroon army that reports directly to the President of the Republic.

Supported by the United States, the force has been active against Boko Haram insurgents in Northern Cameroon and separatist groups in the western regions.