Cross River State Police Rescue Workers After Armed Youths Attack Quarry

CP Rashid Afegbua, psc, mnips, 

Cross River State, 12 August 2025 – Police in Cross River State have rescued workers, including foreign nationals, from an attack by youths armed with locally made weapons at a quarry in Akamkpa Local Government Area.

The incident followed the dismissal of nine employees by Akamkpa Quarry Limited at Obung Community. At about 13:20 on 11 August, the affected workers are said to have mobilised youths — some armed with locally made firearms, machetes and clubs — who then blocked the road to the company premises, preventing entry and exit.

The youths reportedly damaged company vehicles, held several workers hostage, and set fire to the home of the community chief. Some of those held included Indian nationals, the police said.

The Divisional Police Officer in Akamkpa assessed the situation and alerted the State Commissioner of Police, CP Rashid Afegbua, psc, mnips, who dispatched tactical teams to the scene. On arrival, officers came under attack: youths hurled stones at police patrol vehicles, causing damage, and fired locally made pistol pellets, leaving some officers with minor injuries.

Police engaged the attackers, made a number of arrests and recovered one long automatic locally made rifle, one locally made pistol, one machete and several expended cartridges.

Commissioner Afegbua warned youths against confronting police officers while they are performing their lawful duties and urged community leaders to counsel their young people about the consequences of such actions.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing, the police added.

Reported by BHG-InfoDesk. Source: Cross River State Police Command.