Cameroonian soldiers have pulled out of Danare community in Boki Local Government Area (LGA), Cross River State, days after entering the Nigerian border town and claiming jurisdiction.
The troops were seen in numbers around Danare 1, near a Catholic church on the road to Budwm, a Bokiye-speaking settlement.
Residents and local youths challenged them, insisting they had no right to operate on Nigerian soil and warned them against intimidation.
Former Cross River lawmaker, Cletus Obun confirmed the incursion and called on Abuja to tighten border security.
"For them to move into Danare baffles me. All because Nigeria has let down our guard, and Cameroon has taken advantage," he said.
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The Nigerian Army later said the situation, which Obun stressed was not the first encroachment in the volatile axis, was contained
Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Lt Col Olabisi Ayeni, stated that troops at Forward Operating Base Danare contacted Cameroonian authorities, leading to a withdrawal in line with border protocols.
Ayeni said preliminary findings traced the incident to a dispute over farmland levies between Danare in Nigeria and Dadi in Cameroon.
To prevent a repeat, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division has ordered the Commander of 13 Brigade to meet his Cameroonian counterpart for further talks on border coordination.
"The Division remains committed to safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity and the security of all border communities," he added.
Boki LGA Chairman, Beatrice Nyiam said she had received residents’ complaints and assured them that security and government agencies were handling the matter.
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