BREAKING: Tension as Over 200 Cameroonian Troops Enter Nigerian Border Community [VIDEO]
Tension gripped Danare community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State on Wednesday after more than 200 armed Cameroonian security personnel reportedly crossed into Nigerian territory without formal border clearance.
The development sparked fear among residents, many of whom fled their homes over concerns that the situation could escalate into a security crisis.
Local sources said the heavily armed officers entered the community in the early hours of the day, raising fresh concerns about the safety of border settlements that have repeatedly felt the impact of the conflict in neighbouring Cameroon.
A former Vice Chairman of Boki Local Government Area, Hon. Kingsley Mbia, was said to have intervened during the incident. According to accounts from the community, he confronted the foreign security personnel and cautioned against actions capable of violating Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
His intervention was said to have helped calm the situation and prevented any immediate confrontation between the visiting troops and local residents.
Residents described the development as unsettling, noting that the presence of such a large number of armed foreign officers created panic across the community. Many feared that the operation could be linked to the ongoing separatist crisis in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions, which has continued to push refugees and displaced persons into parts of Cross River State.
Danare and several other communities along the Nigeria-Cameroon border have for years served as safe havens for people fleeing violence across the border. The area has also witnessed previous security incidents involving cross-border pursuits by Cameroonian forces.
The latest incident has revived memories of similar incursions recorded in 2017 and 2018, when Cameroonian troops allegedly crossed into Danare while chasing separatist fighters. Those incidents generated diplomatic concerns and drew the attention of Nigerian lawmakers and security agencies.
Community leaders are now calling on the Federal Government and security authorities to strengthen surveillance around the border and reassure residents of their safety. They warned that repeated unauthorised movements by foreign troops could heighten tensions in already vulnerable communities.
As of the time of filing this report, there had been no official statement from the Nigerian Army, the Federal Government or the Cross River State Government regarding the reported incursion.
