Among the items recovered were an Expanded GPMG, AK-47 ammunition, a pistol, several locally fabricated rifles with cartridges, and cutlasses.
By TheInvestigator
In a significant step toward lasting peace in the region, approximately 80 repentant militants who had been operating along the Bakassi-Oron waterways voluntarily surrendered themselves and a cache of assorted arms and ammunition to the Cross River State Police Command on Thursday, January 16, 2026.
The surrender, achieved without any use of force, marks a major success for the Command’s ongoing arms mop-up initiative, which emphasises a non-kinetic policing approach focused on dialogue, strategic engagement, confidence-building, and intelligence-led operations. The militants embraced the Cross River State Government’s amnesty programme, choosing rehabilitation and reintegration into society over continued criminality.
The operation was coordinated by Operation Okwok, the state’s revamped joint security task force, in collaboration with other police components and the state government.
Among the items recovered were an Expanded GPMG, AK-47 ammunition, a pistol, several locally fabricated rifles with cartridges, and cutlasses. All surrendered weapons are being processed in accordance with standard police procedures.
The Bakassi-Oron waterways, part of the strategic coastline bordering the Gulf of Guinea, have historically faced security challenges linked to militancy.
The individuals associated with them have publicly renounced violence and expressed commitment to becoming law-abiding citizens. They are now being guided through rehabilitation and reintegration processes under the amnesty framework.
CP Rashid Afegbua, Commissioner of Police for Cross River State, commended the state government for its unwavering support and described the development as a validation of the Nigeria Police Force’s shift toward people-oriented, intelligence-driven strategies that prioritise prevention, persuasion, and community collaboration.
He reassured residents of the Command’s determination to build on this success and maintain proactive security measures across the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, who issued the official statement, urged the public to continue providing timely and credible information to aid ongoing operations.