Capsized Of BIR Logistics Vessel: President Paul Biya Prescribes Measures

• The secretary general in the ministry of defence
• The army, air force and navy chiefs of staff
• The central coordinator director of the national gendarmerie
• The commander of the fire fighters corps
• The head of the military secretariat
• The heads of the communication, military security and military cooperation divisions
• The liaison officer of BIR
• The assistant military secretary and chargé d’Etudes.

   

  After evaluations, the various components of the defence forces were ordered by the minister delegate at the presidency in charge of defence to carry out rescue and search missions and he to immediately set a commission of inquiry to be coordinated by the secretary of state for defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie /.

(s) Beti Assomo Joseph

Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence.

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The Minister Delegate at the Presidency in Charge of Defence, informs  national and international opinion that a BIR logistics vessel code name “Le Mundemba” on a supply  mission to Bakassi on board 37 personnel including the crew capsized off  shore the coast of  DEBUNSHA on July 16, 2017 around 6 a.m local time. The circumstances of this incident have not yet been determined, reports indicate that the sea was abruptly agitated.
The control centre which lost contact with the vessel, raised the alarm. Immediately, maritime patrols were deployed for search and rescue missions as well as an over flight patrol which surveyed the geographical area of ??the last control signal.
The helicopter was able to spot traces of fuel and thus directed the maritime patrols to the likely locations of the wrecked vessel.

So far 03 soldiers were rescued but the vessel seems to have sunk to the bottom of the waters. The area has been mapped out and a thorough search for survivors is ongoing. 34 personnel are still missing.

        
 Informed by the incident, the Head of State, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces has prescribed the intensification of rescue and search missions as well as the establishment of a crisis cell in the Ministry of Defense to coordinate the different search operations and the implementation of appropriate means of rescue and investigation.

Follow suit, the minister delegate at the presidency in charge of defence held a crises meeting with top ranking officials of his m...