Boko Haram:480 Nigerian soldiers flee to Cameroon

  It’s a tactical manoeuvre – DHQ

By Samuel Aruwan, Kaduna
, Bode Olagoke, Abuja

Cameroonian military authorities yesterday said 480 Nigerian soldiers were in their territory after a fierce battle with Boko Haram fighters in areas around the Nigeria-Cameroon borders, the Hausa Section of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported.
The report said the Nigerian troops fled into Cameroon after a battle on Sunday in Banki area of Borno state where Nigeria’s border with Cameroon is located.
Spokesman of the Cameroonian military, Lt. Col. Didier Badjeck, who confirmed the development to the BBC, said the troops had been disarmed and are presently in separate locations in Marwa area of the country which is said to be about 80 kilometres from the Nigerian side of the border.

The Cameroonian military did not provide details regarding how the troops got into their country and their condition, and whether they are making provision to transport them back to Nigeria.
The troops, other sources said, got into Cameroonian territory after failed attempts to counter the Boko Haram insurgents who seemed to have thousands of fighters manning highly sophisticated weapons.
It was also gathered that aside the troops, there were thousands of Nigerians that fled into Cameroon on Sunday night and early hours of yesterday following outbreak of intensify battle between the troops and Boko Haram fighters in the region.
It was further learned that the fighters had started combing mountains and thick forests in search of civilians and security operatives escaping from the confrontation.

Similarly, another source in Gamboru in Borno state told BBC Hausa Section that he saw at least 50 Nigerian policemen yesterday crossing over to Cameroon after heavy fighting with the Boko Haram fighters in the area.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday described the Nigerian troops who found themselves in Cameroon during fierce battle with terrorists as “a tactical maneuvre.”
In a post on its website, the Defence Headquarters said: “The Nigerian troops that were 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 maneuvre.

“Eventually, they found themselves on Cameroonian 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 Cameroonian 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 incident 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.
“Meanwhile, troops are repelling a group of terrorists who are trying to enter the country through Gamborou Ngala. A group of them who fizzled into the town are being pursued.”