Fear grips Cross River as busloads of armed foreigners, suspected illegal miners arrive communities

Thursday, January 9, 2025 - At least five buses were seen offloading strange men with features typical of nationals from the Sahelian region of West Africa in the Agoi Ibami community in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State on Wednesday evening.

Sources in the community confirmed that the men were seen offloading implements such as head pans, shovels, machetes, mattresses, beddings, cooking utensils, and arms.

An indigene of Agoi Ibami, Mr Great Andrew Bassey, said that such mass arrivals have become a significant threat, making the indigenes and other residents feel apprehensive.

According to him: “At about 4:20 pm today, two buses first entered the community of Agoi Ibami, possibly for mining activities at the Akpa plantation in Agoi Ibami, Yakurr Local Government Area. Other buses have also arrived, filled with non-Nigerians.

“The situation developing in Agoi Ibami involves a group of Hausa individuals and other strangers who are not Nigerians. They have come in with buses, perhaps for mining activities.

“This is a matter of urgent attention from the government.

“The influx of these illegal miners into the Agoi communities of Agoi Ekpo, Ekom Agoi, and Agom Ibami is threatening the lives and security of the people.”

Agoi is a vast but largely neglected reservoir of natural resources, including forests, gold, and other solid minerals, which have attracted these nefarious illegal miners and loggers.

Commissioner of Police Augustine Grimah said there was no cause for alarm, as detachments of police units were in those communities, monitoring developments.

A community chief and former presidential aide, Obol Obono-Obla, said: “It is imperative that the government of Cross River State and the Federal Government of Nigeria focus on addressing the security breaches and criminal activities perpetrated by these illegal mining syndicates in the Agoi region of Yakurr Local Government Area before the situation escalates and mirrors the crisis in Zamfara. I urge immediate action to combat these threats and safeguard the well-being of the people in this region to avert another Zamfara.”