As Nigeria combats the wave of terrorism occasioned by Boko Haram insurgents operating on the North Eastern part of the country, and recently spilling into neighbouring Cameroon and Chad, feelers coming from Cameroon have it that security agents in the francophone nation have been ordered to withhold information concerning the terror group from Nigeria.
Findings emerging on Friday, August 15, 2014 have it that the government of Cameroon has circulated a directive ordering all military officers in charge of border posts with Nigeria to withhold all “critical information” about Boko Haram away from Nigeria.
The directive by Rene Emmanuel Sadi, Cameroon’s minister for territorial administration and decentralisation was obtained by Punch newspaper.
Punch reports:
Sadi, had in the letter with Decree no …G/D/MINATD, with the title, ‘Strong Message’ addressed to the Commander, Rapid Intervention Brigade, noted that Cameroon did not want the grave security situation in Nigeria to spill over to the country.
He stated also that information on Nigeria from western countries portrayed Nigeria in a negative manner.
He charged the Cameroonian forces to be vigilant along the border to prevent further spill over of Boko Haram violence into the country.
The minister said the Cameroonian Head of State, Mr. Paul Biya, had charged all the units to ensure that activities of the insurgents were not allowed to get into the country.
The letter read, “As you are aware of the security situation in the country, and the impending turmoil/danger coming from our neighbour, Nigeria, you must keep all important information regarding the Islamic sect under your control without sharing all the information with Nigerians.
“We do not want the situation from our neighbouring country to spill over to our country.
“Information from our Western friends portrays Nigeria negatively.”
A security source further told SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday, August 15, 2014 that only 200 soldiers had been deployed in the areas where the Francophone country said it had deployed 1,000 soldiers to secure its own side of the border.
Further investigations revealed that the Chief of Defence Staff of Cameroun had relocated to the North of the country to keep critical intelligence away from Nigeria.
When contacted, the Director, Public Communication department, Ministry of Foreign affairs, Ahmedu Ogbole-Ode, said he was not aware of that Cameroon was not cooperating with Nigeria in the campaign against terrorism, adding that he did not know that Cameroon had ordered its security personnel not to work with the country.
He said, “I am not aware of the content of the letter, in fact, I’m hearing it from you for the first time. I cannot comment on the level of cooperation between Cameroon and Nigeria unless I get the necessary information from our mission in Yaounde.”
The Cameroonian Mission in Nigeria could not be reached for comments on Friday as calls to the office was not responded to.
When our correspondent contacted the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade, he said the Nigerian military was willing to collaborate with all bodies willing to aid the fight against insurgency in the North-East.
He said, “The Nigerian military is disposed to cooperate with anyone who is an ally in the fight against terrorism within the country, the sub region and anywhere.”
