The casket bearing the remains of the late Paramount Chief of Ossing in Manyu Division was flown from the Yaoundé 101 Air Force Base to the Mankon Airport, near Bafut.

The brief honours parade at the Bamenda Airport was witnessed by Atanga Nji Paul, Minister of Territorial Administration and Permanent Secretary of the National Security Council accompanied by North West Governor, Lele LAfrique Adolphe and Mezam Senior Divisional Officer, Songa Pierre Rene.

Atanga Nji who described himself as an indirect member of the family paid glowing tributes to the fallen soldier of exceptional qualities. The Minister comforted members of the bereaved family before the mortal remains left for Ossing in Manyu Division.

Hear Atanga Nji: “It’s a very emotional ceremony. I am happy that the Head of State His Excellency President Paul Biya, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces has rendered to General Tataw Tabe James all the honours he deserves. I am talking first of all as a family member because my father who was already an established business man here in the 1960s was the only hotel owner and the only transporter. My father is the person who went to Nigeria to convince General Tataw and other Cameroonians after independence that they should come and serve their country. And General Tataw responded positively. And when General Tataw came to Cameroon, he stayed in our hotel, the Bamenda Airline Hotel which was the first in West Cameroon. He stayed with us for about three months before going to take his first post of responsibility.

“And moreover, General Tataw was the President of the Lawn Tennis Federation for more than 25 years and I am also a member of the Tennis Federation because I am a good Lawn Tennis player. I am the veteran champion.

“I am very happy to have seen that President Paul Biya who is always very conscious of those who have helped the country has given him all the honours he deserves as a civilized Cameroon. General Tataw was a committed soldier. Throughout his career, he had a high sense of responsibility and he showed total loyalty to President Paul Biya and to state institutions. As an indirect member of the family, I am very happy to have been present to pay my last respect.”

Born on September 5, 1933 at Ossing village, Eyumojock Subdivision of Manyu Division in the South West Region, General Tataw James was since September 2001 promoted to the rank of Major General within the Cameroonian army and was a traditional ruler of the Ossing village since 2006.

The fallen Major-General was buried on Saturday September 21, 2019 in his native Ossing Village.