The hostages were reportedly kidnapped while travelling to Kumbo in the Bui Division of the North West Region recently.
The Rapid Intervention Battalion has reportedly freed nine hostages in Kumbo in the Bui Division of the North West Region. The hostages were reportedly kidnapped while travelling to Kumbo recently. Per sources, elements of the battalion freed the victims after immediately intervening to rescue them following an alert. According to sources, thanks to rapid, coordinated, and decisive action, the BIR forces succeeded in rescuing nine hostages and neutralizing the terrorists involved in the attack, according to a report from this elite unit of the Cameroonian army.
In a statement, the BIR reassured the public of its unwavering commitment in the fight against armed groups. It also reaffirmed its determination to guarantee the security of citizens while working tirelessly for the return of peace and stability in Bui Division. The BIR is an elite force of the Cameroonian army that reports directly to the President of the Republic. Supported by the United States, the BIR is active both against Boko Haram insurgents in the Far North and against separatist groups in the western regions.
Unlike other branches of the military, the BIR’s budget does not appear in the Ministry of Defense’s official accounts. Its funding sources remain opaque, though it is reportedly financed by the National Hydrocarbons Corporation, SNH. The force has its own flag, marked with the lion’s seal, and is headquartered in Yaoundé in a base popularly known as Bastos, after the neighborhood where it is located.
Historically, the BIR was reorganized in 2001 and 2008 to increase its capacity. At the time, each battalion consisted of a 145-man intervention unit, a 37-man special command and support section, a 37-man special intervention unit, a 97-man command and support group, and a 1,000-man light intervention group. These structures reflected its dual mission: rapid deployment and specialized counter-insurgency operations.
The latest intervention in Bui illustrates once again the decisive role of the BIR in safeguarding Cameroon’s national security and preserving territorial integrity against persistent threats.
By Saju LINDA
