Cross River: Village head confirms shoot out between illegal miners and security operatives

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Cross River: Village head confirms shoot out between illegal miners and security operatives

The village head of Agoi Ibami is Yakurr LGA of Cross River State, Attah Charles Ikum Ujong has confirmed that there has been heavy shoot out between illegal miners and state security operatives.

He said the shooting began Monday afternoon, disclosing that the security men’s intent was to begin flushing the criminals out of the forests.

In the last three months, over five truckloads of strange men, reportedly from the Sahel region and northern parts of Nigeria disguised as miners.

Attah Charles Ujong told DAILY POST exclusively “There are over 8000 of these men in my community.”

Last week, senior state security adviser, Major General Obono Ubi (rtd) at a stakeholders security summit in Ugep, asked the illegal miners to evacuate from all the forests in five days. This is even as 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army had earlier dispatched many soldiers to the affected communities.

Ujong said, “Yesterday evening, there was heavy shooting between these illegal miners in my community, policemen and men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence.

“Many of them were running away from the forests. Many were arrested. Many of these illegal miners were picked up at Ugep and Iwuru towns by the security.

“I had expected the security men to continue the operation today but they left. There are over 8000 of these strange people. I didnt like the way the policemen left”, he lamented.

However, the state police command PRO, SP Irene Ugbo denied knowledge of the operation, saying she would find out and revert.