their duty posts into Cameroon, yesterday, after they ran short of
ammunition in their encounter with Boko Haram terrorists who stormed
the two communities with sophisticated weapons in search of security
operatives.
The Defence Headquarters, however, clarified immediately that the 480
Nigerian soldiers found on Cameroonian soil actually pursued fleeing
Boko Haram terrorists past international boundaries of both countries
against international law, hence they needed to surrender to
Cameroonian authorities as required by law to show they were not on a
hostile mission.
Both Gamboru Ngala and Banki towns share boundaries with Cameroon
Republic which have been witnessing series of deadly attacks in recent
times, including the massacre of over 300 traders in Gamboru Main
Market in May.
Nigeria Army
The attacks on the communities came barely 24 hours after leader of
the sect, Abubakar Shekau released a new video proclaiming an Islamic
Caliphate in Gwoza town which was taken over by the insurgents.
Gamboru Ngala is North-East and about 180 kilometres, while Banki town
in Bama Local Government Area is South-East and about 120 kilometres
from Maiduguri, the state capital.
A competent source said many of the terrorists were killed by troops
in Gamboru-Ngala before the troops ran out of ammunition and had to
cross over the border into Cameroon to join forces with their
Cameroonian counterparts to repel the attacks.
According to a BBC Hausa programme monitored in Maiduguri by our
correspondent and corroborated by sources, the insurgents invaded
Banki town on Sunday, and stormed Gamboru-Ngala, at about 5am,
yesterday.
It was gathered that while in Banki, the insurgents overpowered the
troops on ground by deploying rocket-propelled launchers, and
improvised explosive devices, IEDs on the duty posts of the troops who
managed to escape and fled towards Amhide villages before they entered
Cameroon for safety.
It was also revealed that some of the troops in Banki fled to Marwa
through Gazawa, another community bordering Borno and Cameroon
Republic. It was not clear whether there was any casualty on both
sides. However, sources said many casualties were recorded including
terrorists, security operatives and civilians who were caught up in
the crossfire.
400 soldiers escape to Cameroon
Also in Gamboru-Ngala, it was discovered that more than 400 of the
troops managed to escape during the attack on their facilities, and
reunited with their Cameroonian counterparts who made frantic efforts
to repel the attackers. As 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 yesterday evening, told
our correspondent that "the insurgents who occupied the area were not
after civilians, and asked residents not to flee, saying they were not
in the town to attack civilians but military operatives.
"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 terrorists'
assurance that they were not after residents. Unfortunately, as I am
speaking to you, I have seen corpses of civilians and that of
terrorists on the streets of Gamboru-Ngala, suspected to have been
caught up in the crossfire or stray bullets".
A top military source in Maiduguri, who is not authorized to speak to
the press confirmed the attacks in the border communities, insisting
that the fighting was ongoing, but couldn't give the number of
casualties.
The position of things, by Defence HQ
The Defence Headquarters in its reaction to Nigerian troops found in
Cameroon explained that military authorities of both countries have
discussed the issue and resolved it while the Nigerian soldiers have
returned to their base.
A report posted on the Defence Blog regarding the incident 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 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 in order to assure the friendly country that they
were not on a hostile mission.
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