BIR soldier brutally murdered by population in Melong

Second class soldier Enioki Joel joined the rapid the Rapid Intervention Batallion in 2021 and is part of the recent graduates of the elite force training centre.

Authorized to be out of the centre for a brief holiday just like the rest of the comrades, Joel unfortunately took upon himself to make a display of force in his native Melong. According to several reports on ground, he missed no opportunity to intimidate the villagers.

This May 1, Enioki Joel is 40km away from Melong, on his way to a neighboring village when he meets a vehicle in the middle of the road. Reports say the owner of the vehicle was unable to move it due to an overheating problem and the poor nature of the road during the rainy season. Joel, who was on a motorcycle, furiously ordered the vehicle’s owner to move it but the driver was vehement: it was impossible to do given the circumstances. A fight ensued and overpowered, the soldier pulled out a special knife, known to be owned only by BIR soldiers (commonly called leader man) and stabbed the driver in his chest.

Bewildered onlookers immediately tried to intervene but Joel succeeded to escape. A little while later, sensing tensions had gone low, Joel returned to the crime scene and attacked the driver’s brother who was struggling to find a vehicle to transport his injured brother. Angered, the population of the neighborhood beat him up, tied him, and used a machete to cut him in various places and his death soon followed.

Reports say the people from Joel’s native Mbo’o have moved to the neighboring village and are burning houses, plantations, and vehicles asking the settlers to go back to their villages of origin.

Reports say second-class soldier Enioki Joel had previously beaten up a man in Mbo’o and had done the same to his wife, even asking her to roll in a muddy gutter to humiliate her.

It is believed military action will soon follow this murder but already most of the deceased’s colleagues have condemned Joel’s behavior saying they are trained to protect the vulnerable and not intimidate them and violate their rights.

The people of the area where the incident happened who are predominantly from the North West region are being victimized with threats. A source says that houses are being ransacked and the people asked to leave.