NIGERIAN military authorities have disagreed with the Cameroon authorities over the report that Nigerian soldiers fled into Cameroon, following fierce fighting with Boko Haram militants.
While the Defence headquarters explained that Nigerian soldiers found in Cameroon chased Boko Haram sect members past the international borders of both countries, the Cameroon’s army spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Didier Badjek, said the soldiers, who fled into Cameroon, had been disarmed and were now being accommodated in schools.
According to a report from the website of the Defence headquarters, “the Nigerian troops found in Cameroon was as a result of a sustained battle between the troops and the terrorists around the borders with Cameroon, which saw the Nigerian troops charging through the borders in a tactical manoeuvre.
“Eventually they found themselves on Cameroon’s soil. Being allies, the normal protocol of managing such incident demanded that the troops submit their weapons, in order to assure the friendly country that they were not on a hostile mission.
“Following necessary discussions between Nigerian and Cameroon’s military authorities, the issues have been sorted out. Subsequently, the troops are on their way back to join their unit in Nigeria.
“The reference to the incidence as a defection is, therefore, not appropriate, considering the discussion between the two countries’ military leadership and the series of contacts with the soldiers who have confirmed that they are safe.”
But the Cameroon’s ar,my spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Badjet, told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that the soldiers are currently in the Cameroon’s town of Maroua, about 80km (50 miles) from the Nigerian border.
He also said thousands of civilians had also fled across the border, which, he said, had been officially closed, to help contain the spread of Ebola virus.
Both Gamboru Ngala and Banki towns share international boundaries with Cameroon Republic and have witnessed series of attacks in recent times.
The development came barely 24 hours after the acclaimed leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, released a new video that his group, after taking over Gwoza Local Government Area in Borno and Buni Yadima inYobe, has established Islamic Caliphate in the region.
A source said many of the terrorists were killed by troops in Gamboru -Ngala before the troops ran out of ammunitions and had to cross over the border into Cameroon to reunite with their counterpart to repell the attacks.
According to BBC Hausa programme, monitored in Maiduguri by the Nigerian Tribune, the insurgents invaded Banki town on Sunday, while in Gamboru-Ngala, they stormed the town at about 5.00 a.m on Monday.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the insurgents, while in Banki, overpowered the troops on ground by using rocket-propelled launchers and improvised explosive devices, while the troops managed to to escape and flee towards Am hide villages, before they entered Cameroon for safety.
It was also revealed that some of the troops in Banki fled to Marwa through Gazawa, a village community bordering Borno and Cameroon Republic, but it was not clear whether there was casualty from both sides.
However, sources said many people were killed, including the terrorists, security operatives and civilians caught up in the crossfire.
Also in Gamboru-Ngala, it was revealed that more than 400 members of the troops managed to escape during the attack on their base and reunited with their counterparts in Cameroon, who are now making efforts to repell the attack.
Residents said the exchange of gunfire was ongoing between the terrorists and the military around the border communities of Cameroon and Nigeria.
A resident of Gamboru, who fled to Maiduguri on Monday evening, but pleaded anonymity, told the Nigerian Tribune that “the insurgents were not after civilians, as they occupied the area telling residents not to flee.
“Some of us who could not withstand the sounds of gunshots and explosions between the insurgents and the military had to flee for safety, while others managed to stay, based on the assurance from the terrorists that they are not after residents.
“Unfortunately, as I am speaking to you, I have seen corpses of civilians and that of the terrorists, suspected to have been caught up in the crossfire, laying on the streets of Gamboru-Ngala.”
Speaking to a top military source in Maiduguri, he confirmed the attacks in the border communities, but insisted that the fighting was ongoing.
7 police officers rescued -FPRO
Meanwhile, seven course men have been rescued so far, while efforts are being intensified to find 28 others attacked at Police Mobile Force Training School, Gwoza, Borno State, on Thursday last week.
This disclosure was made known by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, on his Twitter handle, on Monday.
