RismadarVoice Reporters, March 13, 2026
Troops of the 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, under the operational command of Headquarters 82 Division, have neutralized five suspected armed criminals, uncovered an illegal gun manufacturing facility in Odonget Community, Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The operation was part of ongoing military efforts in the area following a recent ambush on troops who had responded to a distress call arising from a communal dispute.
According to a statement issued on March 13, 2026, by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters 13 Brigade, Major Yemi Sokoya, troops carried out sustained exploitation operations between March 12 and 13, involving aggressive cordon-and-search missions and fighting patrols aimed at tracking down those responsible for the earlier attack.
During the operation on March 13, the troops reportedly made contact with the armed suspects, engaged them in a firefight, resulting in the death of five attackers, while others fled the scene.
Further clearance operations led to the discovery of an illegal arms production factory, believed to have been used by criminal elements to fabricate weapons deployed in violent activities within the locality.
Recovered items from the site included three AK-47 rifle magazines, ten locally made firearms, and a toolbox containing equipment used for weapon fabrication. The facility was subsequently destroyed by the troops to prevent its continued use by criminal groups.
The Commander of 13 Brigade, Brigadier General Patrick Alimikhena, who supervised the operation, commended the troops for their courage and professionalism. He assured residents of the military’s resolve to sustain operations, intensify surveillance and conduct regular patrols to apprehend fleeing suspects and maintain peace in the area.
He also called on members of the public to support security agencies by providing credible and timely information that could assist ongoing efforts to rid the community of criminal elements.
