At least, 20 militants in Akwa Ibom State have surrendered their weapons to the Federal Government’s Inter-Agency Task Force on Militancy, said the leader of the task force, Air Vice Marshall Jim Gbum in Eket.
AVM Gbum said the militants, who were part of a group known as “Lacto Marine”, surrendered weapons which included included six browning machine guns, rocket launchers and AK-47 rifles at the Ibeno Jetty in Ibeno Local Government Area of the state.
He said that the militants did this in response to the second phase of the amnesty programme by the Federal Government for repentant militant groups.
He alleged that this group was responsible for crimes on the high seas between between Akwa Ibom and CrossRiver states.
Meantime, Mr Samuel Ayadi, Chairman of Artisanal Fishermen Association of Nigeira, Akwa Ibom chapter, has commended the Federal Government for extending the programme to those who did not embrace its first phase.
He said that the surrender by the group would bring the needed peace in the waterways in the state.