No fewer than 80 militants have voluntarily surrendered to the Nigerian Army under the Cross River State Government’s amnesty programme in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of the state.
Headquarters 13 Brigade Nigerian Army disclosed that the surrender took place in the early hours of Friday, 16 January 2026, at Atimbo Rear Area, Operation OKWOK, within Akpabuyo LGA, marking a major milestone in ongoing efforts to enhance peace, security and stability in the area.
According to the Army, in a statement signed Major Yemi Sokoya Assistant Director of Public Relations, the militants emerged voluntarily from the creeks and surrendered themselves for amnesty from two different camps. The first group, led by ThankGod Ebikontei, also known as Ayibanuagha, presented 39 fighters, while the second group, headed by John Isaac, popularly known as Akpokolo, presented 41 fighters. Isaac’s group is widely referred to as the Akpokolo Marine Forces or Border Boys.
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During the exercise, the repentant militants also surrendered a cache of arms, ammunition and other items. These included three AK-47 rifles, two pump-action guns, one Mark 4 rifle, one G3 rifle, 12 single-barrel guns, 10 AK-47 magazines, three speed boats, four boat house power engines, one C4 charge explosive, 19 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 84 DENGUN cartridges, as well as assorted military kits, tools and locally fabricated weapons.
Speaking on the development, the Commander of 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Peter Olusegun Alimikhena, described the surrender as a major confidence-building achievement, noting that it validates the effectiveness of sustained military operations combined with constructive engagement.
“This voluntary surrender and embrace of amnesty by these former militants clearly demonstrates that sustained military operations, combined with constructive engagement and strong collaboration with the Cross River State Government and other security agencies, remain effective tools for restoring peace,” Alimikhena said.
He assured that the Brigade would continue to provide a secure environment while supporting lawful initiatives aimed at reintegrating repentant youths and ensuring lasting stability across its Area of Responsibility.
Following the completion of the surrender process, the former militants were formally handed over to the Rapid Response Team of the Cross River State Government and are currently undergoing profiling by the Department of State Services (DSS) at Muka Sam Hotel, Ikot Ansa, Calabar.
The Army commended the Cross River State Government, under the leadership of Governor Bassey Edet Otu, for its commitment to peace and security, describing the state’s proactive engagement and coordination as instrumental to the success of the amnesty programme.
Headquarters 13 Brigade reiterated its commitment to working closely with the state government, security agencies and other stakeholders to consolidate the gains recorded and prevent a relapse into criminality. It also urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to sustain peace and security across Cross River State.
