By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
An academic and clergyman, Archbishop (Dr) Iwora Godfrey Agara, has urged friends, associates, congregants and family members to stay away from Ochon community in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State, citing worsening insecurity.
The cleric announced the postponement of his mother’s burial, earlier scheduled to hold in Ochon, following escalating violence in the area and neighbouring communities.
Tension has remained high since last week in Odonget, a neighbouring village, where soldiers from the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army and the 245 Battalion, Edor Barracks, have been deployed after the killing of two soldiers and four youths.
The unrest was reportedly triggered by clashes linked to illegal mining activities in surrounding communities, which heightened local tensions before military intervention.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that several houses in Odonget have been razed, the village head displaced, and many residents forced to flee for safety.
Security operatives are said to have cordoned off the area, restricting access and raising concerns over unattended casualties.
Meanwhile, Ochon and neighbouring Alesi communities have continued to grapple with a protracted boundary dispute that has led to recurring destruction of lives and property.
In a statement, Archbishop Agara appealed for understanding over the sudden change in plans, attributing the decision to prevailing security risks.
“Arising from the crisis in Obubra LGA, which has affected Ochon village, the venue for the burial of my beloved mother, late Chief Egana Egwona-Agara, the ceremony is now rescheduled to Saturday, May 2, 2026,” he said.
He expressed hope that the situation would stabilise before the new date, allowing for a peaceful burial and thanksgiving service scheduled for May 3, 2026.
The cleric apologised to guests who had made travel arrangements, noting that the postponement, though inconvenient, was necessary to ensure safety.
Reacting, the Information Officer of 13 Brigade, Major Yemi Sokoya, said the military presence in the affected communities remains essential to restoring calm and preventing further escalation.
Major General Obono Ubi (rtd) chief security adviser to Gov Bassey Otu as well as chairman of Obubra LGA, Kingsley Arikpo have visited to assess the situation.
