- Safiu Kehinde
Residents of Dankare community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross Rivers State have engaged a troop of Cameroon soldiers over encroachment into the community.
The troop comprising of over 200 soldiers were alleged to have on Wednesday crossed the Nigeria-Cameroon border and entered into Dankare community, causing panic among residents of the area.
Video of the incident shared on X showed heavily armed soldiers walking along the community with some of the residents challenging them.
One of the soldiers could be seen warning one of the residents against recording them.
A former Vice Chairman of the LGA, Kingsley Mbia, was reported to have deescalated the tense situation as he engaged the soldiers.
According to reports, Mbia issued a stern caution to the officers, emphasizing that the unauthorized entry of armed foreign military personnel into Nigerian soil is a violation of international boundary regulations.
He warned that such actions are unacceptable and cautioned against any future incursions, stressing the need to respect the sovereignty of Nigerian communities.
Meanwhile, the development had also sparked public concerns with netizens demanding probe into the presence of the Cameroonian soldiers on Nigerian soil.
Some however warned against confronting the Cameroonian soldiers as they were alleged to be hostile.
“Don’t joke with Cameron soldiers oh, they are naturally not friendly and note that in Cameroon, you don’t record their activities.”@wleo237
“The guy confronting armed soldiers forgot one small thing. Death can happen. After that, there’ll be a press release, an investigation, a few apologies and everybody moves on. This isn’t bravery. It’s stupidity.”@UnveiledInsight
“In a Civilized Country this is a “violation of state sovereignty “under International Law.. and requires immediate sanctions.”@AngryBroda
“What we might think is bravery can actually turn out to be stupidity telling a solider you’ll video him and he won’t do anything to Cameroonian Soldiers that are naturally not friendly they can waste you and our government won’t do shit rather than just a press release with an apology.”@Eddielawrence95
“Can you imagine Cameroonian soldiers in Nigerian?with whom approval because i don’t understand the point here.”@ChineduJevizu
“Ordinary bandits are dealing with Nigerian soldiers. Would they be able to confront other countries soldiers?”@camalbeauty
“All of you condemning this young brave man. If he hadn’t be “stupid” as you call it, how would we have gotten this vital Information? Applaud the dude and call your govt to order.”@onos_kana
“When it come to war all I know is Nigeria is not safe cause there is no proper border patrol control. They walk freely into the country. What if they kill people and leave.”@ILWID49