The village head of Odonget community in Obubra LGA in Cross River State, His Highness Chief Richard Ahim Ayan, and other community stakeholders who escaped into bushes and neighbouring communities are lamenting over their wives, children, and other loved ones who are said to be missing or have been killed.
Last Thursday at about 1:00 a.m., soldiers from the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army invaded the community following reports that the locals requested illegal miners to pay N1,000 each before passing with their minerals. 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.
The soldiers have imposed a dawn-to-dusk curfew.
Precious minerals, including a very lucrative one locally called ‘Cusa’, used for gunpowder, have been mined illegally in communities in nearby Etung LGA over the last three years by men from northern parts of Nigeria in alleged connivance with powerful individuals.
“More than 500 armed soldiers are still occupying our village, making it very unsafe for our return. The whole village is a ghost town except for the soldiers sauntering about,” said a youth leader, Amos Agim, who is now hiding in Iyamoyom community.
Agim explained that since everyone fled from Odonget to Ochon, Itabang, and other communities, several family members have been reported missing while many have been killed.
In an interview, Agim lamented, “I don’t know where my wife and children are. Since early Thursday morning, everyone ran in different directions. My house has been burnt.
“The family of our village head is also scattered; some were killed. His house and many other houses were burnt down.”
Agim recalled the genesis of the problem, saying it began when the northern men mining the precious stones in nearby communities refused to pay N1,000 each before being allowed to evacuate the minerals through Odonget.
“One kilo of the precious stone is N35,000. They make so much money, yet they refused to pay at the checkpoint manned by the community vigilante.
“Trouble ensued. The miners then invited the soldiers, who arrived with arms and, instead of settling the problem, descended on our community, setting it ablaze and killing our people. As we speak, corpses still litter our community.”
Another displaced victim, Madam Charity Bissong, sobbing, said her aged husband and two grandchildren who could not escape were killed.
Reacting in a statement on March 12, 2026, Major Yemi Sokoya, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Headquarters of 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, denied the killings but disclosed that during their engagement with the community, only four people were killed while they lost one soldier.
He said the soldiers acted swiftly to prevent a total breakdown of law and order.
He added that they had to call for reinforcement from the 245 Battalion when armed local youths allegedly ambushed them.
