AMNESTY: Over 80 Militants Surrender Arms, Embrace Amnesty in Cross River

By David Odama

No fewer than 80 militants operating in the creeks of Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State have voluntarily laid down their arms and embraced the state government’s peace and reintegration amnesty programme.
The militants emerged in large numbers from the creeks at the weekend at Atimbo Rear Area under Operation OKWOK, within the Area of Responsibility of Headquarters 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army.

The development is being described as a major strategic breakthrough in the fight against coastal militancy and maritime crime in southern Cross River.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the surrender followed months of sustained military pressure, complemented by discreet dialogue involving community leaders, government officials and security agencies.
Two militant camps dismantled themselves simultaneously in a coordinated action. The first camp, led by ThankGod Ebikontei, popularly known as Ayibanuagha, presented 39 fighters, with four additional members expected to report in the coming days.
The second camp, commanded by John Isaac, alias Akpokolo, brought forward 41 fighters. His group, widely known along the waterways as the Akpokolo Marine Forces or “Border Boys,” had controlled vast stretches of creeks linking Cross River to neighbouring coastal corridors.
Ten more members of Akpokolo’s camp are also expected to join the amnesty process. Altogether, 80 militants formally exited the creeks and entered the state-supervised disarmament and rehabilitation programme.
The disarmament exercise went beyond symbolism, as a substantial cache of weapons, equipment and operational assets was voluntarily surrendered, reflecting the level of firepower previously at the groups’ disposal.
Items handed over included AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, a Mark 4 rifle, a G3 rifle, several single-barrel guns, magazines, speedboats, high-powered boat engines, locally fabricated pistols and assorted military kits.
Security officials expressed particular concern over the surrender of an explosive charge and live ammunition, highlighting the destructive capacity the militants once possessed.
Also surrendered were machetes, camouflage uniforms, tactical vests, knee and elbow guards, and communication gadgets, underscoring the organised nature of the armed groups rather than loosely structured criminal gangs.
For the Nigerian Army, the quantity and quality of the surrendered items confirmed that the amnesty process was reaching core actors, not merely foot soldiers.
The Commander of 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. P.O. Alimikhena, described the development as a “confidence-building milestone” that validates the military’s dual-track approach.
“This voluntary surrender shows that consistent operations, combined with constructive dialogue and strong collaboration with the Cross River State Government and other security agencies, can deliver peace,” Alimikhena said.
He added that the Army would continue to secure the environment while supporting lawful initiatives aimed at reintegrating repentant youths and ensuring lasting stability.
Military sources disclosed that the success recorded in Akpabuyo followed intensified patrols, improved intelligence gathering and sustained engagement with local power structures in creek communities.
Following the formal disarmament, the former militants were handed over to the Cross River State Government’s Rapid Response Team and are currently undergoing profiling by the Department of State Services (DSS) at Muka Sam Hotel in Ikot Ansa, Calabar.
The profiling exercise is intended to verify identities, assess security risks and determine eligibility for rehabilitation, skills acquisition and reintegration support. Officials said the process is critical to ensuring that only genuinely repentant militants benefit from the programme and that criminal elements do not exploit the amnesty.
Akpabuyo Local Government Area lies along a strategic maritime corridor linking inland communities in Cross River State to coastal and cross-border trade routes. For years, militancy in the area disrupted fishing activities, boat transportation, palm produce trade and cross-border commerce with Cameroon.
Sea robbery, illegal taxation of fishermen, extortion and violent turf battles had turned the creeks into zones of fear. The simultaneous withdrawal of two major militant camps in a single day therefore represents both a psychological and operational shift, signalling that militancy is no longer seen as a viable survival option for youths in the area.
The Nigerian Army attributed the success of the Akpabuyo amnesty to what it described as effective civil-military collaboration, commending the Cross River State Government under Governor Bassey Edet Otu for sustained political backing, coordination and logistical support.
Sources noted that the state government’s commitment to dialogue, rehabilitation and youth empowerment made the pursuit of peace more attractive than continued life in the creeks.
Despite the powerful images of surrendered weapons and former fighters, officials cautioned that the most challenging phase still lies ahead, stressing that reintegration, monitoring and economic re-engagement will determine whether the peace is sustained.
Headquarters 13 Brigade reaffirmed its commitment to consolidating the gains, warning that while the door to peace remains open, security forces will maintain pressure on any group that chooses violence over dialogue.
The military also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, emphasising that the breakthrough in Akpabuyo marks not an endpoint, but a foundation for a safer and more stable Cross River State.