Communication Minister denies allegations of use of French-made equipment for torture in NW, SW

Communications Minister, Rene Emmanuel Sadi has denied accusations regarding the Rapid Intervention Battalion, BIR in the troubled North West and South West regions. Going by media reports, the unit is said to be using French-made armoured vehicles to molest innocent civilians in the Anglophone regions and the Far North Region of Cameroon.

In a statement made today September 22, 2019, Minister Sadi called the reports questionable and unfounded. The BIR he noted, have always carried out their tasks in the most appropriate manner.

Government says the military is professional

“The Rapid Intervention Battalion,
it should be underscored without mixing words,
is an elite unit that has always been
distinguished by the quality of its troops, its
bravery, its efficiency and its achievements in
all theatres of operations, where it has been
called to action” the statement by the communication minister read.

The force he added has not lost its focus even in the Anglophone regions as it combats secessionist fighters.
“South-West regions, where its vocation and mission are and remain that of preserving the
security of populations and their property, and
the defence of peace and the territorial integrity
of Cameroon.”

This is not the first time, government is denial claims of right violations committed by soldiers.

Citing some of the elite unit’s gains both in the right against the Boko Haram sect and secessionists in the Anglophone regions, Minister Sadi said there “the need to question the
connection of this pernicious media campaign,
with the announcement of the Major National
Dialogue, by the Head of State.”

Many, however doubt the sincerity of the release, owing to the fact that former communication boss, Issa Tchiroma had made similar refutations regarding extra judicial killings by Cameroon soldiers, which eventually turned out to be true.

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