•Cameroonian soldiers and Tinubu
The House of Representatives has urged the Tinubu-led federal government to take urgent diplomatic and security measures to halt alleged incursions by Cameroonian military personnel into Nigerian territory, warning that repeated border violations could undermine the country’s sovereignty and heighten insecurity in affected border communities.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the member representing Boki/Ikom Federal Constituency of Cross River State, Victor Abang, who raised concerns over what he described as recurring unauthorised entries by Cameroonian troops into communities along the Nigeria-Cameroon border, reports Daily Independent.
Presenting the motion yesterday, Abang alleged that the latest incident occurred on June 9, 2026, when armed Cameroonian soldiers crossed into Danare, a border community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, without authorisation.
He argued that the action amounted to a violation of Nigeria’s territorial integrity and international law.
According to him, “The Cameroon armed incursion into Danare, a border community in Boki Local Government of Cross River State, is a breach of territorial sovereignty under international law.”
The lawmaker told the House that residents were thrown into panic after several Cameroonian military personnel, armed and dressed in combat gear, allegedly entered Nigerian territory without observing established international boundary protocols.
“The officers, armed and in full military gear, entered Nigeria’s territory without complying with established international boundary protocols,” he said.
Abang noted that the incident left many residents fearful about their safety and raised fresh concerns over the security of communities situated along the international boundary.
According to him, “The presence of foreign military personnel sparked widespread alarm and panic among locals and left our people traumatised, who feared for their safety and questioned the security implications of the breach.”
He further contended that the alleged repeated cross-border incursions violated established principles of international law governing the sovereignty of states.
“It is an egregious violation of the tenets of international law for the Cameroonian armed forces to make such incessant unauthorised incursion into the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Such action offends the principle of territorial sovereignty — a cornerstone of customary international law codified in the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of any state,” he said.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House condemned the alleged incursion into Danare and called on the federal government to intensify diplomatic engagement with the government of Cameroon to address the recurring border incidents and prevent a further escalation of tensions.
The lawmakers also urged the Nigerian Armed Forces to establish a permanent Forward Operating Base in the Danare axis to strengthen border security and reassure residents of the government’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
In addition, the House called for the implementation of the report of its Ad Hoc Committee on the Nigeria-Cameroon border crisis and mandated its Committees on Defence and National Security to ensure compliance with the resolutions and report back for further legislative action.
Nigeria and Cameroon share an international border stretching approximately 1,700 kilometres across Cross River, Taraba, Adamawa, Benue, Akwa Ibom and Borno states.
Although the two countries resolved their long-standing dispute over the Bakassi Peninsula following the 2002 judgment of the International Court of Justice and the subsequent Green Tree Agreement, concerns over boundary demarcation, security patrols and the protection of border communities have persisted.
Communities along the frontier have, over the years, reported incidents involving cross-border movements, harassment and security-related disputes, highlighting the need for sustained diplomatic engagement, effective border management and stronger security presence in vulnerable areas.
The House’s latest resolution reflects growing concern among lawmakers over the need to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity while maintaining peaceful bilateral relations with its neighbour.
