Tension as officials accuse Cameroonian troops of entering Nigeria without authorisation

- Officials have accused Cameroonian soldiers of entering Nigeria without proper authorisation

- The officials said Nigerian security forces have been deployed to prevent further crossing of the troops

- The officials also warned that such action by the Cameroonian forces could hamper the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Cameroon

Some Cameroonian troops have been accused of entering Nigerian territory without proper authorisation, Reuters reports.

The troops were said to have crossed over into Nigeria in search of the Boko Haram terrorists in the boundary area between Nigeria and Cameroon, sources said.

Confirming the invasion, a Nigerian government official, two Nigerian military officers and two foreign diplomats who spoke under anonymity said Nigerian security forces have been deployed to prevent further crossing of the troops.

Denying the invasion, authorities of Nigerian and Cameroon government have said the relationship between the two countries are good.

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However, Cameroonian military officials and some pro-government media have accused Nigeria of sheltering some of the Anglophone insurgents.

The foreign diplomat said: “Cameroonian troops were in Nigeria. Zero warning, zero authorization.”

The diplomat and a Nigerian military official said the troops have crossed into Nigeria twice in December.

They also indicated that the incident could sour up bilateral relations between the two countries.

“Tensions are high and could escalate,” the official said.

But Cameroonian government spokesperson, Isaa Bakary, denied claims that the troops had crossed the borders illegally.

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Bakary said Cameroon and Nigeria are on the same page especially in the recent fight against terrorism.

He said: “Relations between the two countries are cohesive when it comes to fighting against terrorism. Cameroon and Nigeria are on the same wavelength.”

Also the Nigerian minister of foreign affairs, Geofeery Onyeama said: “The (Nigerian) government had investigated and discovered that it’s not true."

It was gathered that Cameroon has pressured the Nigerian government in the past to hallow it the right to pursue Boko Haram militants in the Lake Chad region.

The request by the Cameroonian government had also left the two countries in loggerheads.

A source said: “We were not for war but keeping the peace and protecting our territorial integrity. They were asked to leave and they did and everything has been brought under control.

“Many refugees have crossed into Nigeria and many more are still crossing and the Cameroon authorities appear to be concerned that the situation may escalate if they keep coming into Nigeria."

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Also, a Cameroonian military official said the insurgents have taken solace in the fact that they can invade Cameroon, launch attacks and cross back through the borders without being pursued.

The official had asked: “How do you explain that these guys come to attack us and then leave without being troubled across the border? When we drive them back, these separatists withdraw toward Nigeria."

NAIJ.com earlier reported that some Boko Haram terrorists had attacked some officials of the Nigerian Customs Service.

Twenty six officers were reportedly killed during the attack by the terrorists.

Also, it was gathered that the economic borders in the north eastern region have also been closed, with only one functioning optimally.

Boko Haram abducted my husband and the Gov't forgot about him - on NAIJ.com TV

Source: Naija.ng