The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), South-South Zone, said it would soon begin the destruction of a cache of arms and ammunition surrendered by 80 repentant militants in Cross River State.

The Zonal Director of NCCSALW, South-South Zone, Alex Inemah Ebimiebo, who disclosed this to journalists in Calabar on Monday after receiving the cache of arms and ammunition from the Office of the State Security Adviser, said the destruction is in line with national and international best practices.

Ebimiebo, who commended the administration of Governor Bassey Otu for according priority attention to security matters, particularly the fight against the proliferation of arms and other weapaons in the state, described the development as a testament to the effectiveness of the state government’s peace-building initiatives and collaborative security framework, noting that Cross River continues to stand out as one of the safest and most peaceful states in the country.

The zonal director also lauded the State Security Adviser, Major General Okoi Ubi Obono (rtd), for his strategic leadership and strong collaboration with security agencies, which he said has translated into concrete gains in maintaining peace and stability across the state. He called for sustained synergy among all components of the state’s security architecture to preserve and deepen the prevailing peace.

He further urged Cross Riverians and residents of the state to shun acts capable of threatening public peace, while reaffirming the centre’s commitment to curbing the spread of illicit arms in Cross River State and the entire South-South Zone.

The arms surrendered by the militants were earlier laid down under Operation OKWOK at the Atimbo Rear Area, in an exercise coordinated by the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with the Cross River State Government. The repentant militants, drawn from two camps, voluntarily embraced the state’s amnesty programme, surrendering assorted weapons including rifles, guns, ammunition, explosives, speedboats and other military hardware.

Representing the State Security Adviser at the event, Inspector Adoga David assured that the Otu-led administration would not relent in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property in the state. He noted that the government’s prompt response to security concerns and sustained support for security agencies have continued to boost morale and yield positive outcomes in maintaining peace.