Five soldiers who died in different operations in the Far North and Central African Republic (CAR) were honoured with posthumous State accolades on Friday, September 25, 2015, in Yaoundé.

The solemnity of the funeral song by the military band and the marching steps of military men who bore the caskets of the five deceased soldiers only reflected the heavy hearts and saddened emotions that swept through the courtyard of the Military Headquarter’s Brigade in Yaoundé on Friday, September 25, 2015.

An outburst of wailing by relations, who could not hold back their tears, was heard amidst the sound from the band, ushered in the caskets draped in national colours bearing the mortal remains of the departed soldiers.

Apart from Gendarmerie Sub-officer Agbor Djomo Johnson who died on August 2, 2015, in the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the other four died in different localities in the Far North Region within the framework of Operations Emergence and Alpha instituted to combat the terrorist sect, Boko Haram. They include, Staff Sargent Ntowa Maigari Pierre, Lance Corporal Noudji Nadji Augustin, Gendarme Fotso Penka Hervé Honore and Private Second Class soldier, Belibime Paul.

The bravery and the ultimate sacrifice of the soldiers for their fatherland was recognised by the government as the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo’o posthumously decorated the deceased with medals of Valour on behalf of the President of the Republic.

He extended the condolences of the Head of State and First Lady and their compassion to the bereaved families. While reminding the population of the sacrifices of the Defence forces for the preservation of social peace, Mebe Ngo’o reiterated the head of state’s determination to exterminate the nefarious terrorist group.

In his eulogy, the Commander of the 41st Motorised Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Martin Prosper Bayemi, saluted the courage and determination of these soldiers who died while defending their nation and population against aggressors. The Minister of Defence handed financial assistance from the President of the Republic to the families ranging from FCFA 3 million for non-commissioned and FCFA 4 million for Commissioned soldiers.