Cross River village head, 200 families displaced by soldiers lament from hideouts
Conflict Erupts in Odonget Community Following Military Intervention
Odonget, Cross River State — Chief Richard Ahim Ayan, village head of the Odonget community in Obubra Local Government Area, alongside other stakeholders, expressed deep concern for their families following a military operation that has left many residents unaccounted for and some presumed dead.
The incident occurred early Thursday morning, around 1:00 a.m., when troops from the Nigerian Army’s 13 Brigade entered the village. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the military was responding to complaints that local residents were demanding a fee of N1,000 from illegal miners seeking to transport minerals through the community. Reports indicate that more than 50 houses, including the residence of Chief Ayan, were destroyed and several villagers were killed during the operation. Authorities have also imposed a dawn-to-dusk curfew on the area.
The illegal mining of valuable minerals, particularly a substance known locally as ‘Cusa,’ has been a contentious issue in surrounding communities, especially within the Etung Local Government Area. Over the past three years, individuals from northern Nigeria have reportedly engaged in these activities, allegedly collaborating with influential local figures.
Amos Agim, a youth leader currently seeking refuge in Iyamoyom, described the situation in Odonget as dire. “Over 500 armed soldiers are still occupying our village, making it very unsafe for our return,” he said. “The whole village is a ghost town except for the soldiers who are roaming about.”
Many residents have fled to neighboring villages such as Ochon and Itabang, with Agim reporting that numerous family members remain missing and others have been killed. “I don’t know where my wife and children are. My house has been burnt,” Agim lamented. He noted that the violence stemmed from conflicts between miners and the community’s vigilante group over the refusal to pay the stipulated fee.
“The miners make substantial profits, yet they refused to comply with our regulations,” he added. “In response, they called in the soldiers, who arrived heavily armed. Instead of resolving the issue, they devastated our community.”
Among the displaced is Madam Charity Bissong, who tearfully recounted how her elderly husband and two grandchildren were unable to escape and were killed in the chaos.
In response to the allegations, Major Yemi Sokoya, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 13 Brigade, issued a statement on March 12, 2026, denying the claims of widespread violence. He stated that only four individuals were killed in the engagement, while one soldier also lost their life. Major Sokoya asserted that the military acted to prevent a total breakdown of law and order, calling in reinforcements from the 245 Battalion after facing attacks from armed local youths.
The situation in Odonget remains tense, with many residents uncertain when they will be able to return home safely.
