Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Army has firmly rejected allegations that its troops set fire to residential buildings during a two-month-long military operation in Odonget, a community in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State, challenging the villagers to produce any photographic or video evidence to back their claims. The denial, issued on Sunday, May 10, 2026, by the Public Relations Officer of the 13 Brigade, Major Yemi Sokoya, came two months after soldiers from the 13 Brigade Calabar and the 245 Battalion Edor Barracks Ikom moved into the community on March 12, 2026, in response to distress calls from suspected illegal miners who alleged that local youths were attacking them for refusing to pay a N1,000 toll per trip.
Since the army’s deployment, residents have accused the soldiers of wantonly destroying more than 50 houses, including the village head’s residence, as well as stalls, shrines and community halls. Reports also indicate that over 200 persons were displaced, with several villagers allegedly beaten or shot dead. As villagers gradually emerge from hideouts in nearby bushes and neighbouring communities, they are demanding compensation for their burnt houses and for those killed. But the military has dismissed all accusations. Major Sokoya stated that it is not true that they burnt any houses in Odonget during their brief occupation, calling that a big lie. He insisted that the army exists to secure the lives of Nigerians and their properties and could not have been out of control to go about burning houses even by mistake as the villagers claim.
The village head of Odonget, Chief Richard Ahim Ayan, and other community leaders have painted a radically different picture of the military intervention. According to their accounts, soldiers from the 13 Brigade stormed the community around 1 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2026, leaving families scattered and several residents missing. A youth leader, Amos Agim, who is currently taking refuge in the nearby Iyamoyom community, told journalists that the soldiers reportedly burnt down more than fifty houses, including that of the village head, killed several villagers, arrested some, while more than 200 women, elderly persons, and children fled their homes and village for safety.
Agim recalled the genesis of the problem, explaining that it began when northern men mining precious stones in nearby communities refused to pay N1,000 each before being allowed to evacuate their minerals through Odonget. He noted that one kilo of the precious stone is N35,000, and the miners make so much money yet refused to pay at the checkpoint manned by the community vigilante. Trouble ensued, and the miners then invited the soldiers, who arrived with arms and instead of settling the problem descended on the community, setting it ablaze and killing their people. Another displaced victim, Madam Charity Bissong, said her aged husband and two grandchildren who could not escape were killed during the raid. The military has imposed a dawn‑to‑dusk curfew on the community, further compounding the suffering of displaced families.
Major Sokoya offered a detailed rebuttal of the community’s claims. He stated that when the troops responded to the distress calls and moved into Odonget, they were ambushed by local youths, an attack that resulted in the death of one soldier. In the cordon‑and‑search operation, troops moved house to house and uncovered several arms and ammunition hidden in the community. Sokoya suggested that the fires could have been set by members of a rival community with whom Odonget has been locked in a protracted conflict, noting that Odonget, which is a part of Ochon, has been at war with neighbouring Alesi for several years, and that it is possible some misguided youths from the neighbouring community could have taken advantage of the situation to burn their houses. The army’s casualty figures also differ sharply from community reports. According to Sokoya, only four civilians and one soldier died during the confrontation, which occurred after armed youths allegedly ambushed the troops, prompting reinforcements from the 245 Battalion.
The crisis has drawn the attention of state and national authorities. Obubra Local Government Chairman Kingsley Arikpo confirmed that attempts to visit Odonget in his official capacity were rebuffed by soldiers, who blocked his access to the community. Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received an invitation to mediate the situation, following a distress call from the Director General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency. An assessment visit to Odonget and Esabang communities is being planned, involving key stakeholders including NEMA Uyo Operations Office and CRSEMA. However, no formal investigation or compensation scheme has been announced by either the federal or state government. Human rights organisations have called for an independent inquiry to verify the extent of property damage and possible abuses during the military operation.
The dispute over Odonget reflects a wider pattern of security challenges in Cross River State, where illegal mining activities and inter‑community conflicts have repeatedly drawn military intervention. Precious minerals, including a highly lucrative substance locally called “Cusa,” used for gunpowder, have been mined illegally for over three years in nearby communities in Etung LGA by miners from northern parts of Nigeria, reportedly in connivance with powerful individuals. As the two‑month occupation of Odonget comes to an end, the gulf between military and community accounts remains unbridged. The army has insisted that its troops acted professionally, while displaced residents continue to lament lost homes, missing family members, and a lingering sense of injustice. With no independent investigation announced, the truth about what happened in Odonget may remain buried along with the corpses that, according to Agim, still litter the community.
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