Militants in the riverine area of Ondo state, who willing to embrace the amnesty program of the Federal government in the state have trooped out in their numbers to lay down their arms and ammunition.
The exercise which started on Thursday has recorded massive turn out of militants in the five collation centers including Igbekebo, Arogbo, Igbonla, Ajapa, and Igbokoda, all in the southern senatorial district of the state.
Men of the Nigeria Army, the Navy, Police, and civil defence, as well as representatives of each militant camp, are present at the collation centers to ensure only authentic militants benefit from the program.
According to Ondo state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had issued a 21-day ultimatum to the militants to submit their arms in the area.
The amnesty program was part of the requests made by the kidnappers of the six students of Igbonla Model School, Epe Lagos state.
The government of Ondo state who played a major role in securing the release of the students promised to facilitate the amnesty program.
Deputy governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi who took the risk to effect the release and safety of the students is the Chairman of the amnesty program in the state.
Already, the repentant militants are continuously submitting their arms which included pump action, Dane guns, live ammunition, locally made artillery weapons among others.
Ajayi, shortly after touring two of the collections points in Igbokoda and Igbekebo on Friday said he was delighted with the level of turnout of the repentant armed youths who came out from creeks to submit their weapons to embrace the amnesty of the Federal Government.
Ajayi, called on those in the hideout to utilize the window of opportunity offered by the government, adding that whoever fails to utilize the opportunity would be dealt with by the Federal Government.
Also speaking the Commanding Officer of the Nigeria Navy Forward Operation Base, lgbokoda, Navy Captain Chindo Usman Yahaya, described the turnout as impressive.
Asked about the number of weapons submitted so far, the Commander said that it would be difficult to ascertain the number of weapons submitted since the commencement of the disarmament process.
One of the repentant commanders of the armed youths, Osipapa Take Lion, lauded the federal and the Ondo state governments for the privilege given to them to lay down their arms.
He, therefore, urged his colleagues to embrace the exercise by coming out to submit their weapons.
As at the press time the armed youths were still trooping into the centres for submission of weapons and documentation.
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