Troops of the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, operating under the Headquarters 82 Division Nigerian Army, have recorded another operational success in Odonget Community in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State, following the recent ambush on soldiers who were responding to a communal dispute in the area.
The troops launched a series of offensive operations aimed at tracking down those responsible for the attack. The coordinated operations were conducted between 12 and 13 March 2026 and involved aggressive cordon and search missions as well as fighting patrols across suspected criminal hideouts within the community and surrounding locations.
According to military sources, the operations were designed to deny the criminals freedom of movement and dismantle their support networks. Troops maintained sustained pressure on the suspects while combing the area for weapons and other items used in criminal activities.
On 13 March 2026, the soldiers encountered a group of armed criminals during one of the patrols. A fierce firefight ensued, during which the troops demonstrated superior firepower and tactical coordination.
At the end of the engagement, five of the armed attackers were neutralised, while several others fled the scene with gunshot injuries. The troops immediately launched pursuit operations to track down the fleeing suspects.
Further exploitation of the area led to the discovery of an illegal weapons manufacturing factory believed to have been operated by the criminal group. The facility was subsequently destroyed to prevent its further use by the perpetrators.
Items recovered from the location included three AK 47 magazines, ten locally fabricated firearms, and equipment used for the production of illegal weapons. Military authorities say operations will continue in the area to ensure that all criminal elements are apprehended and normalcy is fully restored.