The Nigerian Army has confirmed that it successfully resolved a brief but tense border incident following an unauthorised incursion by Cameroonian troops into Danare community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, restoring calm and preventing what could have escalated into a diplomatic and security dispute along the Nigeria–Cameroon border.
The Army said the situation, which occurred on Tuesday, was swiftly brought under control by Nigerian troops deployed in the area, ensuring that normalcy returned to the border community without any recorded violence or casualties.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Enugu, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Lt.-Col. Olabisi Ayeni, provided details of how the incident unfolded and how it was contained through professional military engagement and adherence to established cross-border protocols.
According to him, troops of the Nigerian Army stationed at the Forward Operating Base in Danare received intelligence reports indicating the presence of Cameroonian soldiers within Nigerian territory in Danare community. Upon receiving the report, the Nigerian troops immediately moved to verify the situation and promptly established communication with relevant authorities in the neighbouring country.
The intervention was described as calm, structured, and in line with existing bilateral military communication channels between Nigeria and Cameroon. Lt.-Col. Ayeni explained that the Nigerian troops maintained restraint while engaging their Cameroonian counterparts, ensuring that the situation did not escalate into a confrontation.
He added that both sides adhered to professional conduct during the engagement, which ultimately led to the withdrawal of the foreign soldiers from Nigerian territory. He noted that the Cameroonian troops retreated peacefully after it was established that their presence was unintentional and contrary to agreed border demarcation protocols.
The withdrawal restored calm to the affected community and reaffirmed the importance of cooperation between security forces operating along the porous Nigeria–Cameroon frontier. The statement further revealed that preliminary findings suggested the incursion was linked to a dispute over the collection of levies on farmland situated between Danare community and Dadi community.
Both communities lie in a sensitive border zone where agricultural land and traditional boundaries often overlap, occasionally leading to misunderstandings over jurisdiction and local control. The Army’s 82 Division, which oversees military operations in the South-East and parts of the South-South region, has since intensified monitoring of the area to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
The Division, a key formation of the Nigerian Army, said it remains committed to maintaining peace and ensuring that cross-border relations remain stable. Security analysts note that while the incident was quickly resolved, it highlights the continuing challenges faced by border communities where national boundaries intersect with long-standing local land use practices and informal economic activities.
Residents of Danare were said to have experienced brief tension during the incident, but normal activities have since resumed following the withdrawal of foreign troops and reassurance from Nigerian security forces. Lt.-Col. Ayeni commended the professionalism of the troops involved in managing the situation and emphasized the importance of sustained dialogue and cooperation between Nigeria and Cameroon in preventing future misunderstandings.
He reiterated that both countries have maintained longstanding military and diplomatic ties and that incidents of this nature are typically resolved through established communication channels rather than confrontation.
As calm returns to the border community, the Army has assured residents that adequate security measures remain in place to safeguard lives and property while ensuring that the integrity of Nigeria’s territorial boundaries is fully protected.
