By Godwin Otang And Kelvin Ololo
About 80 militants operating along the Bakassi-Oron waterways in Cross River State, have voluntarily surrendered themselves and assorted weapons to security authorities, following sustained engagement under the state’s ongoing arms mop-up initiative.
The surrender occurred after coordinated efforts involving Operation Okwok and other police components, working alongside the Cross River State Government’s amnesty program. The individuals, who had been active in the coastal and riverine axis of the state, laid down their arms and agreed to embrace rehabilitation and reintegration processes.
According to the Cross River State Police Command, the development was achieved without the use of force, relying instead on dialogue, engagement and intelligence-based interactions with the affected groups.
Confirming the incident in a press release dated 16 January 2026, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, said the militants voluntarily submitted themselves and their weapons after agreeing to renounce violence.
“About eighty repentant militants surrendered assorted arms and ammunition in their possession and have indicated their willingness to be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society,” Eitokpah stated.
READ: 13 Brigade Troops Rescue 18 Passengers After Boat Hijack In Cross River
Items recovered during the exercise include an Expanded General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), AK-47 ammunition, a pistol, several locally fabricated rifles with cartridges, and cutlasses. Police authorities said the weapons are being processed in line with standard procedures.
The Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Rashid B. Afegbua, acknowledged the role of the state government in facilitating the amnesty framework and assured residents that security agencies would continue efforts aimed at reducing the proliferation of illegal arms in the state.
Residents were also encouraged to provide relevant information to security agencies to support ongoing security operations.
The surrender is expected to impact security dynamics in the Bakassi-Oron corridor, which has previously experienced incidents linked to armed groups operating within the waterways.
It can be recalled that CrossRiverWatch reported on 11 January, 2026, how troops of 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army successfully rescuing 18 passengers, including 2 infants, following hijacked incident on a passenger boat traveling from Nigeria to Cameroon
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