Residents fleeing Odonget community in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State have raised alarm over a growing humanitarian crisis, accusing the Nigerian Army of preventing them from retrieving and burying loved ones killed during last week’s violent clashes.

The community remains under heavy security lockdown following the deployment of troops from the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Calabar, and the 245 Battalion, Edor Barracks. While the military insists its presence is a “stabilisation measure,” residents describe a more dire situation marked by decomposing bodies and continued tension.

Speaking with The Guardian, Theo Abeng, a youth leader from the community who is currently taking refuge in neighbouring Ochon village, alleged that attempts to return home for burial rites have been met with force.

“The soldiers opened fire on us. One of the boys was killed and we had to flee, leaving his body behind,” Abeng said. “We also saw bodies from last week still decomposing because they have not been buried.”

According to him, troops maintain a constant, rotating presence in the village, with patrols operating day and night, effectively restricting residents’ access.

The Guardian gathered that the unrest is linked to illegal mining activities in the area. The crisis reportedly began on March 11 following an incident involving a miner, Ibrahim Musa, who was allegedly assaulted by local youths at a checkpoint where his minerals were seized.

After reporting the incident to the 245 Battalion near Ochon, troops were deployed to Odonget to make arrests.

However, the situation quickly escalated as local youths blocked access roads in protest. The confrontation led to an exchange of gunfire, leaving several people injured and reportedly resulting in the deaths of two soldiers, which prompted a reinforcement of troops in the area.

Beyond the violence, Abeng made further allegations against the military, claiming some soldiers were complicit in illegal mining activities. He alleged that troops had been “seizing precious stones, such as tin ore, from miners,” many of whom he said were from northern Nigeria.

The Nigerian Army has denied any wrongdoing, describing its actions as a response to an armed ambush.

In a statement issued on March 12, the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 13 Brigade, Major Yemi Sokoya, said troops came under attack while leaving the area.

“During the engagement, troops neutralised four of the armed attackers, while several others escaped,” he stated.

Sokoya maintained that the military’s “show of force” had restored calm and normalcy, a position that contrasts sharply with accounts from displaced residents and reports of unburied bodies.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Out, Major General Obono Ubi (rtd), reportedly visited the affected community to assess the situation. However, the state government has yet to announce a concrete plan for the safe return of displaced residents or the evacuation and burial of decomposing bodies allegedly left in the open.

As the standoff persists, residents of Odonget remain displaced, caught between violent clashes linked to illegal mining and a heavy military presence, which they claim is denying them the fundamental right to bury their dead. (The Guardian)