Soldiers belonging to the Nigerian Army units of Achigachia, Gambarou Narayanan and Kerawa have abandoned the battle without a fight.

572 Nigerian soldiers who created so much excitement Monday in the town of Gazawa where they had been temporarily housed in a high school returned home yesterday afternoon escorted by men of the Cameroonian army, commanded by Colonel Jacob Kodji, the newly installed Commander of the 4th joint military region.

Recently, Lieutenant-Colonel Collins Habik came into contact with the heads of the Alpha operation with whom he often had "informal contacts". He negotiated a right of transit in Cameroonian territory.

He wanted to safely pass with his men to join a part of Northern Nigeria which is not under the influence of Boko Haram. He gave all the guarantees that he and his men have no hostile intentions towards Cameroon which is their "ally" in the fight against the sect.

The Nigerian officer revealed to the heads of Alpha that 20 out of the 500 soldiers he had under his command have preceded him in the flight. He said they fled because Boko Haram who took considerable power these days had threatened to attack them and kill them all to seize their weapons and their barracks.

They were joined in their escape by 92 men from a unit in the Nigerian army who were in barracks in Achigachia.