Cameroon’s determination to wage war against Boko Haram and insecurity in general has been boosted with the training of 1,677 elite BIR (Rapid Intervention Battalion) Commandos who have been rewarded with end-of-course diplomas.

They received their end-of-course diplomas at the Man O’ War Bay Training Base in Limbe, last Friday, March 13, 2015.

Thousands turned out to encourage the recipients not only for their hard work but determination to withstand all odds and defend the fatherland even at the loss of their lives.

The exacting training, which started on December 1, 2014 and ended on March 13, 2015 with an epic walk of 400 kilometres from Bamenda to Limbe, was hailed as an irrefutable test of endurance and physical fitness.

Major General Philippe Mpay, who chaired the occasion in the company of the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, Mr. Zang III, and the Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council, Andrew Motanga Monjimba, briefed the successful elite Commandos in the history of Cameroon, the significance of the national flag and the importance of national unity. He called on them to be law-abiding, respect hierarchy and be ever-ready to defend Cameroon’s national sovereignty.

Earlier, the BIR Commandos took an oath of patriotism to selflessly serve the fatherland. Of the initial 1,750 candidates retained for the energy–sapping training, 16 did not show up while nine were dismissed for physical and medical reasons.

Meanwhile, during the training, nine were again dismissed for ineptitude, 36 voluntarily abandoned training while two died. The first ten (10), according to merit, were Bingono Valere, Dikdina Charles, Mbah Ngannou Patrick, Soumai Guilloud, Hamoa Aba James, Fegwa Leopold, Gbane Kuidjo Devy, Dourwe Djaouwe, Mbida Marcel Augustin and Maila Tsondo Thierry.