Boko Haram: 480 Nigerian soldiers flee to Cameroon

 

No fewer than 480 Nigerian soldiers have fled into Cameroon following fierce fighting with Boko Haram insurgents.

The Cameroonian Army Spokesman, Lt Col Didier Badjek, who confirmed this, said the troops had already been disarmed.

But   the Director of Defence Information, Maj. -Gen Chris Olukolade, said the   soldiers merely strayed into Cameroon and therefore were not “deserters.”

Badjek told the British Broadcasting Corporation on Monday that the disarmed Nigerian soldiers   were   being accommodated in schools in Maroua, about 80 kilometres   from the Nigerian border.

The BBC which added that there were clashes in the border town of Gamboru Ngala, said that thousands of civilians also fled to Cameroon.

Our correspondent in Maiduguri gathered that Boko Haram insurgents had at about 5.15am on Monday invaded Gamboru, forcing both civilians and soldiers to flee   to Cameroon.

One of the residents who called from Cameroon, said the insurgents went straight to attack the military base and police station in the town.

He said an initial attack was repelled by the military which killed many of the insurgents.

The resident added that about two hours later, the insurgents regrouped and   launched a fresh attack on the troops.

He said. “They engaged the military and caused them to retreat into Cameroon. It was most likely that the Nigerian soldiers ran out ammunition.

“But some soldiers   later   emerged with their Cameroonian counterparts and continued the battle with the insurgents. But the army refused that statement..............

The Nigerian Defense HQ has denied claims that 480 Nigerian soldiers fled to Cameroon after a sustained battle Boko Haram earlier today at Gamboru-Ngala in Borno state.

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 Cameroun which saw the Nigerian troops charging through the borders in a tactical maneuver.  Eventually they found themselves on Camerounian 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 Camerounian 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.

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.Na wa ooooooo