Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Repentant militants in Cross River State have surrendered a total of 260 arms and 5,510 ammunitions, to be destroyed in the ongoing ECOWAS/European Union Arms Destruction Exercise in Calabar, the state capital.
The arms were surrendered by two militant groups, the Bakassi Strike Force and the Khaki Boys.
Speaking at the occasion, Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, called for the inclusion of the repentant members of Bakassi Strike Force and Khaki Boys into the Presidential Amnesty Programme of the federal government.
Governor Ayade lamented that with over 32 immigrants routes into Cross River, the state has became a veritable source for harvest of arms and young men.
He recalled that his administration had carried out arms mop up exercise in 2018, where over 5,000 militants surrendered their arms, regretting that up till date, they (ex militants) are still waiting to be enrolled into the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
“We have to find an alternative job for them. Let the entire members of the Bakassi Strike force and the Khaki boys be included in the Amnesty Programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“With over 32 immigrants routes in Cross River, the state has became a veritable source for harvest of arms and young men.
“I therefore, appeal to the Federal Government to give the state special consideration in terms of financial assistance.
“I commend the efforts of ‘Operation Akpakwu’ Security outfit in ridding the state of crime. We will not rest until criminals are totally routed out of the state,” he said.
