Defence Headquarter Says Soldiers Desertion to Cameroon is a Tactical Maneuver

The Defence Headquarters on Monday said the presence of Nigerian soldiers in Cameroonian territory is a tactical maneuver from the sustained battle it had with the Boko Haram insurgenst group.

Abusidiqu had reported earlier that the 480 Nigeria soldiers fled into the Cameroonian territory after they were overpowered by the Boko Haram sect in a fierce battle in Gamboru town, near the Nigeria-Cameroon border.

But the defence headquarters in a statement by its spokesperson, Major General Chris Olukolade the troops did not desert to Cameroon, but only found themselves there.

The statement reads:

BIG STORY: THE NIGERIAN SOLDIERS FOUND IN CAMEROUN

The Nigerian troops that were found in Cameroun 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