The Nigerian Army, NA, has said at least 80 militants have surrendered to security forces in Cross River under the state government’s amnesty programme.
In a statement on Friday, Yemi Sokoya, assistant director, army public relations, Headquarters 13 Brigade, said the militants voluntarily emerged from the creeks in Akpabuyo LGA of the state in the early hours of the day.
Sokoya said the surrender took place at Atimbo rear area, Operation Okwok, adding that the militants sprung from two separate camps.
He said the first camp, led by ThankGod Ebikontei, also known as Ayibanuagha, presented 39 fighters, while the second camp, headed by John Isaac, also known as Akpokolo, surrendered 41 fighters.
The second group is popularly known as the Akpokolo Marine Forces or Border Boys, according to the army. Sokoya said the militants also surrendered a cache of arms, ammunition, and other items during the exercise.
“These included three AK-47 rifles, two pump action guns, one Mark 4 rifle, one G3 rifle, twelve single-barrel guns, ten AK-47 magazines, three speed boats, four boat house power engines, one C4 charge explosive, nineteen rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, and eighty-four DENGUN cartridges, as well as other assorted military kits, tools, locally fabricated weapons, and accessories,” he said.
