Troops of the Nigerian Army have barred the Chairman of Obubra Local Government Area, Kingsley Arikpo, from accessing Odonget community following a deadly clash linked to illegal mining activities.
The soldiers, drawn from 13 Brigade and 245 Battalion, Edor Barracks in Ikom, are currently occupying the community after violence erupted between local youths and suspected illegal miners.
The intervention reportedly led to a confrontation between the troops and the youths, during which two soldiers were said to have been killed, while four locals also lost their lives and several others sustained injuries.
The crisis has forced residents to flee into nearby communities, including Ochon, Iyamoyom and Alesi, since March 11, 2026.
Displaced residents have also alleged that they have been denied access to the community, even to retrieve or bury relatives killed during the violence.
Confirming the development, Arikpo said attempts to visit Odonget in his official capacity were rebuffed by the soldiers.
“I attempted to access the village as chairman of the council, but the soldiers disallowed me,” he said.
He added that he only gained entry to the area when he accompanied a retired senior military officer, Major General Obono Ubi, who currently serves as Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Otu.
Arikpo described the situation as tense, noting that troops remain in control of the community, while illegal mining activities were allegedly still ongoing.
Meanwhile, a youth leader from the area, Theo Abeng, who spoke from hiding in Ochon, alleged that he and others were fired upon when they attempted to return to Odonget to bury the dead.
He claimed that one person was killed during the attempt, further heightening fears among displaced residents.
Efforts to get official reaction from the Nigerian Army were unsuccessful, as the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Major Yemi Sokoya, could not be reached.
However, the Army had, in a statement issued on March 12, defended its intervention and maintained that its continued presence in the community was necessary to restore order.
Soldiers block Obubra LG chairman’s access to troubled Cross River community
