By Tata Mbunwe
The new Gendarmerie Legion Commander for the Southwest Region, Colonel Kola, has been installed and instructed to start working immediately to suppress separatist fighters in the Region, which has been engulfed in conflict since 2016.
Col Kola, who was previously commanding the special forces of the Gendarmerie in Yaounde, was installed by the Commander of the Second Military Region, General Ekongwese Divine, at Bongo Square, Buea, on March 29.
“Col Kola, your training and professional background has made everyone want to see you at work on the winding terrain of the Southwest Region,” Gen. Ekongwese said.
Stating that secessionist activists are always “looking for new strategies,” he charged the new Legion Commander to “have no rest” until he contains armed groups in the Region.
“Your work has to start immediately. It is up to you to quickly grasp the full extent of the responsibilities that are now incumbent on you,” Gen Ekongwese added.
The 46-year-old Col Kola replaces outgoing Col. Tchinda Henri, who has been appointed to Garoua in the North Region.
Col Kola is an experienced and well educated officer, who has atleast four diplomas in different military specialties, including combatting terrorism.
The young commander however takes takes hold of the Southwest Gendarmerie at a time when Government has been battling Ambazonia separatists in the Southwest and the Northwest Regions.
His predecessor has been fighting the war since 2018, which was one of the boiling points of the ongoing conflict.
While congratulating his predecessor for the work done so far, Col. Kola promised to prioritize the population in his operations, because they are the “centre of gravity” of the military service.
This pledge comes at a time gendarmes and other units of the Cameroon Military have been accused of committing several human rights abuses against civilians in the English-speaking regions, including killing, torture, arbitrary arrests and detentions, and burning of homes.
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