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Conflicting reports are trailing the inglorious fleeing of Nigerian almost 500 Nigerian soldiers fighting Boko Haram into Cameroon. While the Nigerian Defence Headquarters had said this was a tactical move, facts on ground suggest that the soldiers had fled being killed in a ferocious attack by Boko Haram terrorists. The assumed leader of the Islamic jihadi organistion, Abubakar Shekau, recently released a video claiming dominance over Gwoza town and declaring it an Islamic caliphate. The insurgents also seized a police training academy, near the town of Gwoza. The video also showed Nigerian soldiers abandoning their posts and fleeing from the approaching terrorists.
The news of the defection of 480 Nigerian soldiers to Cameroon was broken by the British Broadcasting Service (BBC) Africa, which saidthrough its Twitter handle twitter.com/BBCAfrica that the soldiers defected to the northern city of Maroua, in Cameroon.
The Biafran had reported that Nigerian soldiers fighting the terrorists in the north eastern part of Nigeria due to what they alleged as the inability of the Nigerian military HQ to equip them with superior weapons to combat the insurgents.
Cameroonian military authorities yesterday confirmed the disarming of Nigerian soldiers in the country. Confirming the disarming of Nigerian soldiers, a Cameroonian Army spokesman, Lt. Col. Didier Badjek, said those involved are now being accommodated in schools. Clashes are said to be continuing in the border town of Gamboru/Ngala.
Boko Haram's five-year-old insurgency intensified this year, despite the deployment of thousands of extra troops to the worst affected areas, after the removal of the General Azubuike Ihejirika, a Biafran, as the Chief of Army Staff. Ihejirika had successfully kept the terrorist at bay at the fringes of Nigerian border with Cameroon and Chad. The terrorists were however energized with the removal of Ihejirika and other services chiefs late last year. There has been various allegations by junior Nigeria military officers that the Muslims in the high commands of the army are sabotaging the fight against Boko Haram. Many high ranking millitary officers are facing court martial for for aiding Boko Haram with military equipment and intel.
Cameroonian military authorities yesterday confirmed the disarming of Nigerian soldiers in the country. Confirming the disarming of Nigerian soldiers, a Cameroonian Army spokesman, Lt. Col. Didier Badjek, said those involved are now being accommodated in schools. Clashes are said to be continuing in the border town of Gamboru/Ngala.
Boko Haram's five-year-old insurgency intensified this year, despite the deployment of thousands of extra troops to the worst affected areas, after the removal of the General Azubuike Ihejirika, a Biafran, as the Chief of Army Staff. Ihejirika had successfully kept the terrorist at bay at the fringes of Nigerian border with Cameroon and Chad. The terrorists were however energized with the removal of Ihejirika and other services chiefs late last year. There has been various allegations by junior Nigeria military officers that the Muslims in the high commands of the army are sabotaging the fight against Boko Haram. Many high ranking millitary officers are facing court martial for for aiding Boko Haram with military equipment and intel.
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has however, stated that the Nigerians soldiers crossed into Cameroon in a tactical move. The DHQ statement stated that it was the battle against Boko Haram across the Nigeria/Cameroon border that took Nigerian troops to the neighbouring country.
The statement by the Defence Headquarters noted that the report and insinuation that the troops defected to Cameroon was not true and therefore, misleading. “Issues concerning Nigerian troops who found themselves in Cameroon during fierce battle with terrorists was just part of the offensive against the insurgents that operate sometimes across borders,” DHQ noted.
In a post on its website 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 manoeuvre.
“Eventually, they found themselves on Cameroonian soil. Being allies, the normal protocol of managing such incident demanded that the troops submit their weapons 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 incidence as 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 Gamboru/Ngala. A group of them who fizzled into the town are being pursued.”
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