The Digest:
Eighty militants operating in the Calabar creeks and parts of Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Cross River State, have voluntarily surrendered arms and ammunition to the Nigerian Army. The surrender, supervised by the 13 Brigade under Operation OKWOK, included two groups led by ThankGod Ebikontei (Ayibanuagha) and John Isaac (Akpokolo). Recovered items include rifles, explosives, speedboats, ammunition, and military kits. The former militants have been handed over to the Cross River State Government for profiling and reintegration.
Key Points:
- The surrender reduces immediate security threats to coastal communities, potentially lowering incidents of kidnapping, piracy, and oil theft.
- It reflects the effectiveness of combined military and non-kinetic approaches, including state government collaboration and amnesty incentives.
- Successful reintegration will be crucial to prevent a return to militancy and ensure long-term stability in the region.
- The event demonstrates the military’s ongoing shift toward community engagement and confidence-building in the Niger Delta.
- It highlights the lingering presence of locally armed groups despite previous disarmament initiatives in the region.
Sources: Daily Post Nigeria
