ABUJA/DAKAR (Reuters) - Cameroonian troops this month crossed into Nigeria in pursuit of rebels without seeking authorization from Nigeria, causing a falling-out between the governments behind the scenes, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
At least one incursion was confirmed by a Nigerian government official, two Nigerian military officers and two foreign diplomats, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity.

Nigerian security forces were deployed to the border to stop any further crossings, said a military source.
The Cameroonian and Nigerian governments said in separate statements there were no incursions. Relations between the two countries are good, Cameroon said.

Cameroonian military officials and pro-government media accuse Nigeria of sheltering Anglophone insurgents. For the past year they have been based in the dense equatorial forests that straddle the border between the two countries, fighting for an independent state they call Ambazonia.

At least 7,000 people have fled as refugees from Anglophone Cameroon to Nigeria following a crackdown ordered this year by President Paul Biya to quell the insurgency, which represents the gravest challenge yet to his 35-year rule.
French is the official language for most of Cameroon but two regions speak English and these border Nigeria, which is also Anglophone.

“Cameroonian troops were in Nigeria,” said a foreign diplomat. “Zero warning, zero authorization.”
The troops crossed into Nigeria at least twice this month, the diplomat and a Nigerian military official told Reuters.
The incidents have caused anger on both sides and could sour diplomatic relations further as Cameroon increases pressure on its Anglophone regions, according to the diplomat and a Nigerian government official.
“Tensions are high and could escalate,” the government official said.

Cameroon government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary denied that troops had crossed the border illegally.
“Relations between the two countries are cohesive when it comes to fighting against terrorism. Cameroon and Nigeria are on the same wavelength.”

Nigeria’s foreign minister, speaking to Reuters after a cabinet meeting in Abuja, also denied the incursions.
“The (Nigerian) government had investigated and discovered that it’s not true,” said Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigeria’s foreign minister.
But the Nigerian government official and a diplomat said Cameroon had threatened to suspend senior Nigerian embassy officials in Yaounde after they lodged complaints. Tchiroma and Onyeama denied this

Governments in Africa often play down diplomatic disputes and present a show of harmony even during bitter rows.
On Monday, rebels killed four gendarmes, Cameroon’s government said, the latest raid on police and military positions in the country’s southwest region.

“TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY”

Nigeria has for decades been West Africa’s powerhouse but the militaries of the two countries have cooperated extensively to confront a threat posed by Islamist militant group Boko Haram. The group has staged attacks in Nigeria for years but more recently it has also conducted deadly assaults in Cameroon.
Cameroon has repeatedly pressed Nigeria to allow it the right of hot pursuit for Boko Haram militants and the issue has left the countries at loggerheads.

After Cameroon’s military crossed the border this month in pursuit of separatist insurgents, Nigeria sent security forces to deter any future attempts, said one of the military sources.
“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,” the source said.

“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.”
Two Cameroonian military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters separatists had set up bases and launched attacks from Nigeria.

One attack was on Dec. 14 and involved two groups of at least 100 separatists, one of the officials said.
“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,” the official said.

Julius Ayuk Tabe, the Nigeria-based chairman of the Ambazonian Governing Council, the political wing of the armed resistance, said he was not aware of any separatist military bases in Nigeria.
Cameroon’s linguistic divide harks back to the end of World War One, when the German colony of Kamerun was carved up between allied French and British victors.

The English-speaking regions joined the French-speaking Republic of Cameroon the year after its independence in 1960. French speakers have dominated the country’s politics since.
REUTERS

There was a country

eshietIntrepid:
There was a country

God help us. This is sad. An embarrassment.

The same border that people cross anyhow to go to Libya

The same border Fulani herdsmen cross back and forth as they wish.

The same border that boko haram uses to bring in fresh supplies of weapons.

The same border that Cameroonians have been crossing for decades uninterrupted to buy goods from ariaria market.

My point is that Nigerian has no border. It only exists on paper map.

Businessincameroon.com :

New victorious incursion by Cameroonian army in Nigeria,

The Cameroonian defence forces, under the Multinational Mix Forces banner, and with the support of the Nigerian army, carried out from 27 to 28 January sweep and search operations in the Nigerian town of Zumbula, the Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma, announced.

During this Cameroonian army operation in Nigeria, Mr Tchiroma indicated, 13 terrorists belonging to the Islamist sect Boko Haram were neutralised, as well as an important arsenal and the rebels’ propaganda tools were seized. This is the 3rd major operation launched by the Cameroonian army on Boko Haram positions in Nigeria since the start of this year. On 2 and 7 January, similar operations ha

d already led to 150 Boko Haram hostages regaining their freedom in the town of Ngoshe.

BRM

horsepower101:
The same border that people cross anyhow to go to Libya

The same border Fulani herdsmen cross back and forth as they wish.

The same border that boko haram uses to bring in fresh supplies of weapons.

The same border that Cameroonians have been crossing for decades uninterrupted to buy goods from ariaria market.

My point is that Nigerian has no border. It only exists on paper map.

So what is your point?

Cameroon has a relatively very small military 14,000 active duty force. As consequence they are better trained, and of course we all know its easier to kit a small army. Point is these guys are well trained in their craft. It may not translate into victory for them, but between December 2015 and now there has been six unilateral and unauthorized incursion into Nigerian territory, they burn down villages and kill hundreds yet the Nigerian government seem to have no semblance on how to respond,

The dullard of Aso rock is busy traveling up and down without knowing what to do about this national embarrassment and let these bunch of Cameroonians to know that we are in charge in West Africa.

Dullard at home = zero impact.

Dullard abroad = zero impact.

Dullard as minister of petroleum = negative impact.