TWO SOLDIERS KILLED AS YOUTHS CLASH WITH TROOPS IN CROSS RIVER COMMUNITY . (PHOTO).

 TWO SOLDIERS KILLED AS YOUTHS CLASH WITH TROOPS IN CROSS RIVER COMMUNITY 

Two Nigerian Army officers, including an intelligence officer, have been killed following a violent confrontation between youths and soldiers in a disputed area of Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The incident occurred in the crisis-prone zone between Isabang and Alesi communities, where troops had reportedly moved to apprehend suspects linked to an earlier assault on a local miner.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the crisis began on March 11 when a 25-year-old miner, Ibrahim Musa, who trades in tin ore at Ekuri village, was allegedly attacked by youths at a checkpoint in the area. The assailants were said to have beaten him and confiscated the minerals he had mined.

The victim later reported the incident to soldiers stationed at the 245 Battalion, Edor Barracks, located near Jenifer Etuh’s Hospital in Ochon. Acting on the complaint, troops reportedly moved into a nearby forest to arrest four youths believed to be involved in the attack.

However, residents said the operation triggered resistance from other youths in the community, who allegedly blocked the access road to prevent the arrests and attacked the soldiers.

Eyewitnesses said the confrontation escalated quickly, prompting the troops to open fire to disperse the crowd. During the clash, four civilians sustained injuries, including Christopher Agara, 27, and Ogobi Egbe, 30, while two others were reportedly taken away for traditional treatment.

The violence left two soldiers dead.

Security authorities have since deployed additional troops to the area to restore calm, while normalcy has reportedly returned to the affected communities. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.