As part of the fight against Nigeria’s Islamic extremists, Cameroon has expelled over 3,000 Nigerians, who have launched attacks across borders, officials said on Tuesday.

“Suspected Boko Haram fighters, who disguised as refugees with explosives hidden in their luggage were arrested at a camp in northern Cameroon on Monday,” Cameroon’s government spokesman, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, said on Tuesday.

Governor of Cameroon’s Far North region, Midjiyawa Bakary said that hundreds of other Cameroonians and Nigerians accused of collaborating with Boko Haram, have also been arrested by authorities.  

“They deported Nigerians, who said they were refugees, but were not staying at camps and lacked identification papers.

“In the different villages there is a certain population of foreigners and they are hiding behind some Cameroonians and hiding those Boko Haram suspects.”

Meanwhile, the United Nations refugee agency says a camp in Cameroon’s Far North Region now hosts about 44,000 people and estimates there are 12,000 unregistered refugees in the region.

In Nigeria, many of those expelled said they were forced out quickly. “It was a terrible journey. We spent almost six days on the road; we initially pleaded with the Cameroonian officials to give us grace of some days, but were put in trucks,” Musa Kawuri, a 52-year-old trader said.

Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency chairman, Haruna Hamman Furo said 12,000 Nigerians are expected to arrive from Cameroon.

“Everyone expelled would be sent to Yola, Adamawa’s state capital. Their condition is good, but some refugees said that several people died during their hike to the border,” said National Emergency Management Agency Camps Coordinator in Adamawa, Sa’ad Bello.