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.
It is 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.
“As I am speaking to you now (4pm on Monday), we are still hearing sound of gunshot miles away, meaning they are still engaging themselves.”
But in Abuja,   Olukolade told one of our correspondents  that the 480 soldiers strayed into Cameroon   while  in pursuit of the insurgents.

He said the soldiers were on their way back to the country and would soon be reunited with their units in the North-East.

The army spokesman stated further that it was the standard practice for soldiers who strayed into a foreign but friendly country to be disarmed.

He explained that the soldiers were not expected to react because there was no hostility involved in the issue.

Olukolade also denied the claim by the insurgents that they had taken control of   Gamboru Ngala, stressing that security operatives were still confronting them in the town.

He said, “In the pursuit of the insurgents, some of our soldiers strayed into Cameroun. The military authorities are in touch with the Cameroonian authorities and the soldiers are on their way back and would soon be united with their units in the country.