About 16 hostages were released Tuesday morning, December 26, by the Cameroonian Army in Benoué National park, northern Cameroon, L’Oeil du Sahel newspaper reports.
At the time of filing this report is is not clear who is behind this kidnapping.
Recall that Cameroon and Nigeria have been fighting Boko Haram in the Sambisa forest for several years now.
Since Nigeria announced a key victory against the insurgents claiming the group had been routed from its Sambisa Forest bastion, its ally Cameroon has intensified operations along its northern border.
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Boko Haram's brutal insurgency, launched in northern Nigeria in 2009, has spread across the border to Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
At least 20,000 people have been killed and some 2.6 million displaced in the violence.
See photos below:
Cameroon and Nigeria have been fighting Boko Haram on the border. Photo credit: L’Oeil du Sahel newspaper
Hostages numbering 16 were released by the Cameroonian Army in Benoué National park. Photo credit: L’Oeil du Sahel newspaper
It is not yet clear who was behind the abduction of these hostages. Photo credit: L’Oeil du Sahel newspaper
According to an earlier report by NAIJ.com, some Cameroonian troops have been accused of entering Nigerian territory without proper authorisation, Reuters reports.
The troops were said to have crossed over into Nigeria in search of the Boko Haram terrorists in the boundary area between Nigeria and Cameroon, sources said.
Confirming the invasion, a Nigerian government official, two Nigerian military officers and two foreign diplomats who spoke under anonymity said Nigerian security forces have been deployed to prevent further crossing of the troops.
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Denying the invasion, authorities of Nigerian and Cameroon government have said the relationship between the two countries are good.
Boko Haram abducted my husband and the Gov't forgot about him - on NAIJ.com TV.
Source: Naija.ng