Troops of the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have foiled an ambush by suspected criminals in Cross River State, killing four gunmen during a fierce gun battle in Obubra Local Government Area.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, March 12, 2026, when soldiers responding to a communal dispute in Odonget Community came under attack while returning to their base.
The Army confirmed the development in a statement released on Thursday by the Major Assistant Director of Army Public Relations at Headquarters 13 Brigade, Lt. Yemi Sokoya.
According to the statement, troops stationed at Ochon and Alesi were first alerted about growing tension in Odonget Community after receiving credible information about a communal disagreement that threatened peace in the area.
Sokoya said the soldiers quickly mobilised to the community in order to prevent the situation from escalating into violence.
The troops conducted patrols and carried out a show of force, a security tactic often used to discourage violence and assure residents of the presence of security personnel.
The Army said the operation helped to calm the tension between the groups involved in the dispute and restore order in the community.
“The troops acted swiftly to prevent a breakdown of law and order,” Sokoya said.
After stabilising the situation and ensuring that the community had returned to normal, the soldiers began their journey back to their respective locations.
However, trouble started when the troops discovered that their route had been deliberately blocked by unknown persons.
According to the Army, the obstruction appeared to be part of a planned attack.
As the soldiers attempted to remove the blockage and reopen the road, they suddenly came under heavy gunfire from suspected criminals who had laid an ambush along the route.
“During efforts to clear the obstruction, the soldiers came under a coordinated ambush by unknown gunmen, leading to a fierce exchange of fire,” Sokoya explained.
The soldiers immediately returned fire and alerted their command headquarters about the attack.
Following the report from troops on the ground, reinforcements were quickly dispatched to support the soldiers under attack.
The reinforcements came from the 245 Battalion of the Nigerian Army and arrived with armoured vehicles and tactical support vehicles to strengthen the operation.
The Army said the quick response helped the troops regain control of the situation and push back the attackers.
“The prompt response enabled the troops to successfully repel and clear the ambush,” Sokoya stated.
During the gun battle, four of the attackers were killed by the soldiers.
However, several others managed to escape into nearby communities and surrounding areas.
Security forces believe the fleeing suspects may have been injured during the exchange of fire.
The Army also confirmed that one soldier was wounded during the encounter.
The injured soldier was immediately evacuated to Jennifer Hospital in Ochon, located within Obubra Local Government Area.
He is currently receiving medical treatment and is said to be in stable condition.
Following the attack, the Army launched additional security operations to prevent further violence and track down the suspects who escaped.
Troops have begun cordon-and-search operations in nearby communities believed to be linked to the attackers.
A cordon-and-search operation involves surrounding a location and carefully searching houses, buildings, and nearby areas for suspects or weapons.
Security officials say the operation is aimed at locating the fleeing gunmen and preventing further attacks.
In addition, the authorities have imposed a curfew in the affected area.
The curfew restricts movement during certain hours in order to improve security and prevent criminals from operating freely.
According to the Army, the curfew will remain in place until security agencies are confident that the area is safe.
Sokoya said the measure was introduced “to forestall further breakdown of law and order and to deny miscreants the freedom to operate.”
The Commander of the 13 Brigade, Brigadier-General Patrick Alimikhena, commended the troops for their courage and professionalism during the incident.
He praised the soldiers for responding quickly to the attack and successfully protecting themselves and the community.
Alimikhena also reassured residents of Cross River State that the Nigerian Army remains committed to maintaining peace and protecting lives across the state.
He said the military would continue working with other security agencies to ensure that communities remain safe.
Cross River State, located in Nigeria’s South-South region, has generally been considered more peaceful than some other parts of the country.
However, the state has occasionally experienced security challenges such as communal disputes, cult-related violence, and criminal activities.
Communal conflicts in particular have been a recurring issue in some rural communities in Cross River.
These disputes are often linked to disagreements over land ownership, traditional leadership, or boundary issues between neighbouring communities.
In some cases, such conflicts can escalate into violence if security agencies do not intervene early.
Obubra Local Government Area, where the latest incident occurred, is largely rural and has several communities where farming is the main occupation.
Because of the nature of the terrain and the distance between communities, security agencies sometimes face challenges responding quickly to emerging threats.
For this reason, the Nigerian Army and other security forces often maintain forward bases in such areas to respond rapidly to emergencies.
The Army’s presence in the area is part of broader efforts by the Nigerian government to support civil authorities in maintaining law and order in different parts of the country.
In recent years, the Nigerian military has been involved in several internal security operations across the country, assisting police and other agencies in dealing with armed groups and criminal networks.
However, they note that swift responses from security forces often prevent such attacks from causing greater harm.
Residents of Odonget and neighbouring communities have been urged to cooperate with security agencies as investigations continue.
The Army also called on members of the public to remain calm and provide useful information that could help security forces identify those responsible for the ambush.
“Members of the public are encouraged to remain calm, cooperate with security agencies, and provide credible information that will assist ongoing operations aimed at apprehending the perpetrators,” Sokoya said.
Security patrols have also been intensified across parts of Obubra Local Government Area to reassure residents and prevent further incidents.
