Biya vows Boko Haram will be crushed like ‘maquisards’, Bakassi pirates

By Mbom Sixtus in Yaounde

Paul Biya

In spite of growing public opinion that the multiplication of Boko Haram attacks in the Far North region of Cameroon has been provoked by President Biya’s declaration of war against the Nigerian Islamic sect during the May 7, 2014 Paris heads of state summit, the president has once again publicly uttered provocative words regarding the strength of the Islamic terror group vis a vis the Cameroon armed forces.

 Speaking to pressmen on Saturday August 2, 2014 at the Yaounde Nsimalen international airport shortly before boarding a presidential flight to Washington D.C for the US-Africa summit convened by President Barrack Obama, President Biya boasted that Cameroon has faced the ‘maquisards’ revolutionaries and a bloody conflict in Bakassi in the past, and that it will not be the Boko Haram Islamic sect that will overpower Cameroonian soldiers.

He declared that after last Sunday’s deadly attack in Kolofata, there has been a remarkable reinforcement of Cameroonian troops deployed to the northern regions of Cameroon to combat the Nigerian terror group.

“A few weeks ago, our military force demonstrated its superiority over Boko Haram. It’s a long battle… we have to fight against this group of individuals who strike at night and slaughter people,” the president said. Biya also added: “I have sent the defence chief of staff, (Major General Rene Ze Meka) to the Far North with more reinforcement in human and material resources. I call on Cameroonians to maintain confidence in the army”.

The head of state also announced that an effective riposte will be reported in the days ahead as the potential of Cameroon’s defence forces along the borders with Nigeria has been reinforced.

Biya also stated that he was invited to the US-Africa summit by US President, Barrack Obama and hoped that there will be room for both of them, plus GoodLuck Johnathan to discuss issues concerning Boko Haram. He equally said that he was going to reaffirm the position of Cameroon with regards to security at the international level.

Commenting on the casualties recorded in the Kolofata incident, he extended condolences to the families of citizens and soldiers who lost their lives in the attack. He said administrative authorities have already been sent to the field to console families of the deceased. He reassured inhabitants of the Far North region that they have the compassion and solidarity of Cameroonians.

Meanwhile, reports say, Biya had earlier ordered that the air force should join the fight against Boko Haram a few days after over 200 insurgents hit Kolofata, killing scores of soldiers and citizens and kidnapping the mayor of the municipality and the wife of the vice prime minister, Amadou Ali.

Reports say following instructions from President Biya, Operation Alpha (aviation combat force) has taken over from Opération Emergence to lead the fight against the Nigerian Islamic sect in the northern region of Cameroon. With the operation, the military search and combat air craft; jet planes and helicopters will assist ground soldiers and the motorised battalion to counteract any Boko Haram attack.
 Observers and sources within the military hold that the insurgents often succeed in their attacks which usually last hours not because the army is inefficient or ill-prepared, but rather because when information is sent to Yaounde, soldiers have to wait for orders from hierarchy; orders which usually take too long to reach them.

With the engagement of the air force in the combat, it is expected that the army will be able to retaliate promptly whenever the ‘devil comes knocking’. The aircrafts are currently stationed in the Garoua military airbase, security forces have hinted.