The elements of Cameroon’s elite force, the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) were led by Lt. Colonel Jérôme-Francis Nko'o Ella, commander of the Operation Chacal in the company of the Divisional Officer of Kumba III Subdivision, Mbua née Epolewane Verklin.

These elements of the BIR offered foodstuff and other basic commodities to some internally displaced persons in the area following the socio-political unrests in the North West and South West Regions.

The commander of the operation said civil-military operations are an opportunity for the military to remind the people that the military is at the service of the population – care for them and do all in their capacity to protect them.

“We are trying to make the population understand that the military are deployed for their protection and to provide them security, make the population and the army be one for the sake of the security of the country,” Lt. Colonel Jérôme-Francis Nko'o Ella told state radio.

The Divisional Officer of Kumba III Subdivision, Mbua née Epolewane Verklin called on the population to feel free to channel their complaints to her office for solutions to be sought. She used the opportunity to sensitize the population to be law-abiding and urged them to collaborate with administrative and security officials for a return to normalcy.

This humanitarian mission to Teke follows another one on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 during which a health outreach programme was animated by the Chief Medical Officer of ‘l’Opération Chacal’.  Hundreds of persons were received by the medical team of the defense and security forces. They were freely consulted and administered basic treatment and medical care. Drugs were also distributed.

A thick crowd of locals turned out to listen to the sensitization messages and also to get medical care. Women and children constituted a bulk of those who answered present.

Before leaving Teke, the special team of defense and security forces distributed food items and groceries to a cross section of the population.

Teke served as the backyard of “General Ivo”, a separatist fighter who led other armed men to fight for the “restoration” of the independence of a country they call Ambazonia – a geographical allusion to Cameroon’s North West and South West Regions.

The kingpin of the Ambazonia armed separatist movement fondly called ‘General Ivo’ was reportedly killed in Teke, Kumba III Subdivision in Meme Division on December 21, 2018 during a raid carried out by the elite forces of Cameroon’s Rapid Intervention Battalion.

Cameroon’s defense and security forces, as well as administrative officials have since paid regular confidence-building visits to the area. This recent visit is the second in less than 30 days.