Daily Hope24 News Desk
No fewer than 80 militants operating in the creeks of Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State have surrendered their arms and embraced the state government’s amnesty and reintegration programme, dealing a major blow to coastal militancy in the area.
The militants surrendered on Friday at Atimbo Rear Area under Operation OKWOK within the Area of Responsibility of the Nigerian Army’s 13 Brigade, following months of sustained military pressure and discreet dialogue involving community leaders and security agencies.
Two camps dismantled simultaneously. The first, led by ThankGod Ebikontei, also known as Ayibanuagha, surrendered 39 fighters, while the second, commanded by John Isaac, alias Akpokolo, presented 41 fighters. Additional members from both camps are expected to report in the coming days.
A large cache of weapons and equipment was voluntarily handed over, including AK-47 rifles, a G3 rifle, pump-action guns, magazines, speedboats, boat engines, locally made pistols and an explosive device, underscoring the level of firepower previously held by the groups.
The Commander of 13 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. P.O. Alimikhena, described the development as a confidence-building milestone, saying it confirmed the effectiveness of combining military operations with dialogue.
The former militants have been handed over to the Cross River State Government and are undergoing profiling by the Department of State Services in Calabar ahead of rehabilitation and reintegration.
Akpabuyo lies along a key maritime corridor where militancy had disrupted fishing and cross-border trade. Security officials said the collapse of the two camps in one day marked a significant shift towards peace, even as troops maintain pressure on groups that reject dialogue.
