The Headquarters of 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, has dismissed as misleading a viral video circulating on social media alleging that armed men mounted a roadblock along the Ikom–Boki axis in Cross River State.
In a statement issued by Major Yemi Sokoya, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, the Brigade said the footage, which shows armed men stopping motorists and warning them not to use a particular road between Monday and Wednesday, has been wrongly linked to the Ikom–Boki Road.
According to the statement, speculation arose after a motorist in the video claimed he was travelling to Ikom, prompting assumptions that the incident occurred within Cross River State.
However, following what it described as a “deliberate review and preliminary investigation,” the Headquarters 13 Brigade clarified that there is no evidence to suggest the incident took place anywhere in the state. The Brigade noted that a close examination of the video revealed vehicle registration plates consistent with those used in neighbouring Cameroon, indicating the event likely occurred outside Nigeria.
Despite the clarification, the Brigade said troops under the Nigerian Army intensified patrols along the Ikom–Boki axis and surrounding communities as a precautionary measure.
It assured residents that the security situation across Cross River State remains stable, with no reports of armed groups erecting roadblocks or restricting movement within the state.
“Cross River State is safe and secure. We will not allow criminal elements or misinformation to create fear where none exists. Our troops are on ground, alert, and fully prepared to respond decisively to any threat to the peace and security of our people,” the Commander, 13 Brigade, Brigadier General Patrick Alimikhena, said.
The Brigade added that troops, in collaboration with other security agencies, continue to conduct routine patrols, checkpoints and intelligence-driven operations to sustain peace and guarantee freedom of movement along major routes.
It urged members of the public to disregard the viral video and refrain from spreading unverified information capable of causing panic, advising citizens to rely on official channels for credible security updates and to report suspicious activities promptly.
The 13 Brigade reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property and maintaining the prevailing peace across Cross River State.
