The Nigerian Army have denied reports that troops burnt houses during the two-month occupation of Odonget community, in Obubra LGA of Cross River State.
On 12 March 2026, soldiers from 13 Brigade Calabar and 245 Battalion Edor Barracks Ikom moved into the community in response to distress calls by suspected illegal miners. The illegal miners had alleged that the local youths were attacking them for refusing to pay N1000 toll.
Following the army’s invasion of the community, they have been accused of wantonly destroying more than 50 houses, as well as stalls, shrines, community halls, etc.
More than 200 persons were reported to have been displayed and many others allegedly beaten or shot to death.
As the villagers are gradually coming out from their hideouts in the bushes and neighbouring communities where they fled to for safety, they are calling on the army to pay them compensation for their burnt houses, and those killed.
But the Public Relations Officer of 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, Major Yemi Sokoya denied all the accusations.
He has challenged the villagers to show any evidence that soldiers were responsible.
Sokoya insinuated that the arson could have been done by a rival community with whom they have been daggers drawn for years.
“When we responded to the distress calls, we moved into the Odonget community. We were ambushed by local youths of the community, which time they had killed one of our soldiers.
“In our Cordon-And-Search operation, we moved house to house and uncovered several arms and ammunition hidden in the community.
“It’s not true that we burnt any houses in Odonget during our brief occupation. That’s a big lie. We could not have done that; we exist to secure the lives of Nigerians and their properties. We could not have been out of control to go about burning houses even if by mistake as they claim.
“The commanders of 13 Brigade and that of 245 Battalion nearby were present. If they insist or claim the soldiers were responsible, let them come up with evidence, like pictures or videos showing when soldiers were setting their houses ablaze.
“You know that, that axis has been volatile. Odonget, which is a part of Ochon, has been at war with neighbouring Alesi for several years. So it’s possible that some misguided youths from the neighbouring community could have taken advantage of the situation to burn their houses…”
His earlier statement when they moved into the community acknowledged that during their engagement with the community, only four persons were killed while they only lost one soldier.
Nigerian Army denies setting houses ablaze in Cross River community