The Ondo State militants have surrendered their arms and ammunition to the state government, the ultimatum expired on Wednesday, according to reports, over 2,000 ex-militants had submitted their weapons and embraced the amnesty granted them by the government.
Akeredolu had given the militants a 21-day ultimatum to surrender their arms and embrace the government’s amnesty.
The amnesty was offered in order to stop the militants’ criminal activities in the coastal areas of the state.
Among the militants who surrendered arms are kidnappers of the pupils of Lagos Model College, Epe, Lagos State, including their leader, Ogailo Young.
A source said although the ultimatum given to the militants had expired, the amnesty was still open to any repentant militants who wished to surrender their arms.
The source confirmed that the militants who had submitted their arms would be included in the amnesty programme of the Federal Government.
He said, “Those (militants) granted amnesty so far are over 2,000 and they will be included in the Federal Government’s amnesty programme. They will be given stipends monthly. Ex-militants who want to go to school will be sponsored while those who want to learn a trade will also be sponsored.”
All efforts to reach the Chairman of the State Amnesty Programme and Deputy Governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi, on the latest development were unsuccessful.
However, when contacted on the telephone, his media aide, Leke Akeredolu, said, “We thank God that there was no hitch throughout the exercise, everything went successfully.”
