No fewer than 300 Nigerian soldiers fled to Cameroon when Boko Haram
insurgents overran Mubi, the second largest city in Borno State from
security forces on Wednesday,SUNDAY PUNCHhas learnt.
Cameroonian military sources told our correspondent that Nigerian
soldiers fled the north-eastern part of Nigeria, where the insurgency
launched by the sect was raging, and crossed the Nigeria-Cameroon
border.
The sources also said more Nigerian troops might have fled to other
border towns in Cameroon after the Mubi attack. However, he added that
their number had yet to be ascertained.
SUNDAY PUNCHalso learnt that the deserting Nigerian soldiers would be
moved away from the border areas to more secure locations, where they
would be disarmed, fed and eventually repatriated to Nigeria.
The insurgents had taken over Mararaba Hildi, some few kilometres to
Mubi town, on Tuesday, prompting a mass exodus of residents.
Hundreds of soldiers were said to have fled Mubi, which hosts two
universities, as insurgents made advances to take over the town on
Wednesday.
Speaking toSUNDAY PUNCHon Friday under the condition of anonymity, a
senior Cameroonian military officer involved in the provision of
welfare materials to the deserters, said, "They (Nigerian soldiers)
are mostly around Boucla village in Bourha sub-division.
"So far, we can estimate the number of arrivals to be at about 300.
These are the ones who arrived in uniform but we know that there are
several others who shed their uniforms for civilian attires."
The Mubi rout also forced thousands of Nigerian civilians to hit
border villages in Cameroon in Benoue and Mayo Louti Divisions, and
around Gachiga town.
It was, however, learnt that Cameroonian government was worried about
the increasing number of refugees and where to keep them.
The relocation of Nigerian refugees was said to have become necessary
as insurgents had previously attacked locations where fleeing Nigerian
soldiers were housed.
Protests by indigenes of the border towns over attacks on the camps
were said to have forced the Cameroonian government to adopt a policy
of moving deserters far away from the border and out of the reach of
Boko Haram.
It was further learnt that Cameroon had begun screening of deserters
and refugees to prevent infiltration by insurgents.
"This time around, we are conducting a more thorough screening to
avoid letting in Boko Haram infiltrators, who are known to inhabit the
ranks of the Nigerian military," an official of the Cameroonian
government had told our correspondent in confidence.
Another Cameroonian military officer, who insisted on anonymity,
expressed fears over possible infiltration of the country's system
through the refugee camps. He declined to give further details on how
the screening was being conducted.
He said, "Taking them in is not something to make noise about. You and
I know that we are in a military situation here. This is a war zone
with Boko Haram spies crawling all over the place.
"The number we take and where we take them are obviously a military
intelligence affair and nobody can give you that information, even if
you were to approach the authorities in Yaounde."
In a related development,SUNDAY PUNCHlearnt that Boko Haram had been
cultivating and recruiting local fighters among Cameroonian youths.
The sect is operating cells that have been in operation in Cameroon
for over three years, recruiting through what a source described as
"financial enticement and intimidation."
Community leaders in the Far North region says thousands of
Cameroonian youths had joined the ranks of Boko Haram since the
beginning of the year.
"These are mostly young unemployed Cameroonians lured by handsome
financial proposals by Boko Haram point men. Other Boko Haram sleeper
cells are run by senior Islamists intimidated into doing the bidding
of the sect," one of the traditional leaders in the area, who refused
to have his name in print, told our correspondent.
Recruitment of youths by the sect is said to be gaining ground in
Cameroon and other neighbouring countries, raising fears that the
activities of the insurgents might spread to other parts of
West-African sub-region.
The sect had abducted seven members of the Fournier family from France
in Cameroon in 2013. They were later released after a huge amount of
money was reportedly paid as ransom.
Senior military sources confirmed that some high-ranking Boko Haram
members arrested in Cameroon were exchanged for the release of the
wife of the Cameroonian Vice-Prime Minister, Ahmadou Ali, and 16
members of his family who were abducted in Kolofata on July 27, as
well as 10 Chinese road workers abducted in Waza in April, 2014.
In another related development, top Cameroonian military officials
have insisted there is a close cooperation between the Nigerian and
Cameroonian armies.
Information on the total number of Boko Haram insurgents detained in
Cameroon has been classified as military intelligence.However, it was
learnt that the Cameroonian military had invited their Nigerian
counterparts to interrogate Boko Haram suspects, Abakar Ali alias
Mustapha Umar, Mahamat Ali and Issiaka Guere, who were arrested on
September 23, 2014.
Other suspected members of the sect in detention, who include
Cameroonians, will be tried by a special military tribunal in Yaounde,
Cameroon, it was learnt.
"We cannot tell you their numbers now because investigations are still
going on. When the investigations will be completed, there is the
possibility that some of the people being held now on suspicion of
being members of Boko Haram might be found to be innocent.
"Others would surely be finally identified as Cameroonians. The
decision as to the fate of those found to be foreigners will be taken
after the conclusion of the investigations. But I must tell you that
besides Cameroonians and Nigerians, there are also members of Boko
Haram from other neighbouring countries, which names we cannot cite
now", an official involved in the investigation disclosed.
However, the Cameroonian authorities are said to be reluctant on the
repatriation of suspected leaders of the sect in their detention, as
they might return to the battlefield should they escape
When our correspondent contacted the Director of Defence Information,
Maj.-Gen Chris Olukolade, for his reaction to the issue, he said he
would not comment on it.
"I won't comment on that," he said.
In August, the Cameroonian Army Spokesman, Lt.-Col. Didier Badjek, had
said Nigerian troops had fled to Cameroon after intense fighting with
Boko Haram.
But Olukolade, had refuted the desertion claim, saying the soldiers
merely strayed into Cameroon.
While Cameroonian authorities said over 700 Nigerian soldiers fled
Boko Haram advances into Cameroon, Nigerian authorities had insisted
that only 480 went into Cameroonian territory on "technical
manoeuver."
In recent times, Nigerian military have been battling with mutiny and
have set up court martials to try soldiers who fled from battle.
On August 27, the military leadership arrested several soldiers, who
deserted the army. The arrested soldiers came from different
battalions.
A month after, the Defence Headquarters announced that another set of
60 soldiers would be arraigned before a General Court Martial by
military authorities in Abuja on October 2 for mutiny. The soldiers
allegedly committed mutiny on August 4, 2014 by refusing to join
troops in Maiduguri for "an operation."
Their arraignment which was to take place at the Sani Abacha Barracks
in Abuja came as some of the 12 soldiers convicted on September 15,
2014 by the GCM notified the Court of Appeal of their intention to
challenge their sentences.
The GCM headed by Brig. Gen. C. Okonkwo had sentenced 12 out of 18
soldiers found guilty of mutiny among other offences to death. Five of
them were discharged and acquitted and one sentenced to 28 days'
imprisonment with hard labour and reprimand.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment