The Nigerian Army has confirmed the incursion of Cameroonian soldiers into a Nigerian community of Danare in the Boki Local Council Area of Cross River State, assuring residents that the situation has been brought under control.

In a statement issued yesterday by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Lt.-Col. Olabisi Ayeni, the Army said the incident occurred on June 9, 2026, and was promptly contained following intervention by troops deployed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Danare.

According to the statement, troops responded immediately upon receiving reports of the presence of foreign military personnel on Nigerian territory and established contact with the appropriate Cameroonian military authorities.

Following the invasion, vigilant youths in the community challenged the Cameroonian soldiers to leave their territory, saying they had no jurisdictional rights to invade Danare.

The Cameroonian soldiers were heard warning the Nigerian youths to stop recording them and to get out of the way.

A former member of the State House of Assembly representing the area, Cletus Obun, confirmed the incident and drew the attention of Nigerian authorities to the incessant incursions of Cameroonian soldiers into the borderline communities.

He said: “The incident took place near a Catholic Church in Danare 1 on the road to Budwm, a Bokiye-speaking community as you come from the Nigerian end.

“For them to move into Danare is something that baffles me, all because Nigeria has let down our guard, and Cameroon has taken advantage of it,” he said.

The Chairman of Boki Council Area, Beatrice Nyiam, said she had received reports and concerns from residents of Danare Community regarding the alleged unauthorised entry of Cameroonian military personnel into the area.

Meanwhile, the Army said its engagement with the Cameroonian authorities has led to the withdrawal of troops from Danare Community, in line with established border protocols, preventing further escalation of the situation.

It noted that preliminary findings indicated that the incident was triggered by a dispute over the collection of levies on farmland situated between Danare Community in Nigeria and Dadi Community in Cameroon.

“As a confidence-building measure and in furtherance of existing diplomatic and military cooperation, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division has directed the Commander, 13 Brigade, to visit his Cameroonian counterpart for further engagement on the situation,” the statement said.

The Army explained that the engagement would help strengthen border coordination, clarify operating procedures along the international boundary and prevent future occurrences.

However, the lawmaker representing Boki/Ikom Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Victor Abang, has condemned the invasion of Danare Community by armed Cameroonian soldiers, describing the action as a direct affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The federal legislator expressed concern over the recurring nature of such border incidents, warning that they pose serious security risks to affected communities and the nation at large.

He maintained that the unauthorised entry of foreign troops into Nigerian territory was unacceptable and should not be tolerated under any circumstances.

According to him, beyond the security implications, the development threatens the cordial relationship that has existed between Nigeria and Cameroon for decades and could negatively affect the livelihoods of residents who rely on peaceful cross-border activities.

Abang commended the people of Danare for remaining calm despite the tension generated by the incident, noting that their restraint helped to avert a possible escalation of the situation.

He called on the Federal Government to take immediate diplomatic steps to engage Cameroonian authorities and address the persistent boundary disputes affecting communities along the Nigeria-Cameroon border. (Text, excluding headline: The Guardian)

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