afrol News, 14 November - Nigerian government has denied responsibility for Tuesday's bloody attack on Cameroonian soldiers in the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula. The ambush left at least 31 people dead [21 Cameroonian soldiers and 10 attackers].

Though the attackers wore Nigerian military attire, Nigeria said the ambush might have been carried out by militants of the oil-rich Niger Delta. The militants had earlier attacked international oil interests in southern Nigerian close to Bakassi.

No group is yet to claim responsibility of the attacks.

Nigerian Defence officials assured Cameroon of their full cooperation to investigate the bloody attack and ensure that those responsible are brought to book.

Last night, Cameroonian government issued a statement on the incident, confirming the attack. But the statement fails short of identifying the aggressors.

Over the years, Bakassi had become a center of bitter dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon. But a ruling by the International Court of Justice in 2002 gave the ownership right of the peninsula to Cameroon. The peninsula whose majority settlers are Nigerians was handed over to Cameroon on 14 August 2006.

Bakassi extends into the Gulf of Guinea, contains about 10% of the world's oil and gas deposits and also endowed with fish.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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