• Over 80 militants surrendered under Cross River amnesty programme
• Two notorious creek camps disbanded in Akpabuyo
• Weapons, explosives, boats handed over voluntarily
• Nigerian Army hails move as major peace gain

The Nigerian Army has announced a major peace breakthrough in Cross River State following the voluntary surrender of dozens of militants who laid down their arms under the state government’s amnesty programme in Akpabuyo Local Government Area.

In a statement released on Friday, the Nigerian Army confirmed that a large number of armed militants willingly emerged from the creeks and surrendered themselves for amnesty at the Atimbo Rear Area under Operation OKWOK.

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The statement, signed by Major Yemi Sokoya, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations at the Headquarters of the 13 Brigade, described the development as a significant step towards lasting peace in the state.

“The militants voluntarily came out of their camps in the early hours of Friday, January 16, 2026, and submitted themselves for the ongoing amnesty programme,” the statement said.

According to the army, the surrendered fighters came from two separate militant camps that had operated within the creeks of Akpabuyo.

The first group, led by ThankGod Ebikontei, popularly known as Ayibanuagha, surrendered 39 fighters, while the second camp, led by John Isaac, also known as Akpokolo, presented 41 fighters. Isaac’s group is widely referred to as the Akpokolo Marine Forces, also called the Border Boys.

During the surrender exercise, the militants handed over a large cache of weapons, explosives, boats, and other equipment that had been used for armed operations in the area.

Items surrendered included three AK-47 rifles, two pump-action guns, one Mark 4 rifle, one G3 rifle, twelve single-barrel guns, ten AK-47 magazines, one C4 explosive charge, nineteen rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, eighty-four DENGUN cartridges, as well as assorted locally fabricated weapons and military kits.

The army also confirmed the recovery of three speedboats and four boat-house engines, which were previously used for movement across the creeks.

Military authorities described the surrender as a clear sign that sustained engagement, combined with the state’s amnesty initiative, is yielding positive results in restoring calm and stability in Cross River’s coastal communities.