by Isi Esene
The Defence Headquarters have announced the return of over 400 soldiers who reportedly fled into Cameroon after fierce fighting against the deadly Islamic militant group, Boko Haram.
In a statement released by the DHQ, the troops were said to have been addressed by the General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Major General Zaruwa following their return.
Defence sources say the soldiers are set to embark on another mission in the ongoing counter terrorism campaign.
There have been widespread reports that the soldiers, numbering about 480, had fled into Cameroon after facing the superior fire power of the sect at a military base in Gamboru-Ngala, Borno on Monday.
The sect later overran the town with little resistance from the Nigerian troops.
The Defence Headquarters have, however, maintained that the Nigerian troops’ foray into Cameroon was a “tactical manoeuvre.”
Muhammed Yusuf, Boko Haram’s founding leader, was killed in controversial circumstances in 2009 and its current leader, Abubakar Shekau has vowed to carve out an Islamic caliphate in Nigeria’s North-east.
Leave a reply