Cameroonian Gendarmes

Scores of Cameroonian paramilitary forces called Gendarmes have reportedly crossed the international border with Nigeria, apparently as part of their fight against armed secessionists.

Reports say over 80 Gendarmes crossed into the town of Danare in Cross River State, claiming they were hunting for militants, an incursion which is similar to that which was widely reported in 2017. Danare is a town hosting a significant number of Cameroonians fleeing the conflict in the Anglophone regions.

The Gendarmes had in December last year, picked up five people in the town with claims that they were part of the armed wing of the Ambazonia Republican Anglophone separatist group seeking independence from Cameroon.

Jude Ngaji, a security advisor to the Cross River State government while addressing the issue, said the matter was being handled at the federal level.

“The issue has gone beyond the Police and the Nigerian Army has just deployed a battalion to the area. No Nigerian has been killed and as you know, this is an international issue which is being handled at the highest level of government,” Ngaji said.

Cameroon has since October 2017 been dogged by attacks on security officials by the armed wing of the Ambazonia separatists who have allegedly killed over a dozen security officials leading to an official declaration of war on the group by President Paul Biya.