Sunday Trust correspondent spent two days at the Obubra Presidential Amnesty Camp in Cross River State, during which he spent time in the midst of over 700 female ex-militants. He captured the mood, the ‘crazy’ and interesting nature of the ladies, their experiences, fears. The story is revealing
Obubra Town: Obubra is a border community in Cross River State. The community recently became home and a training ground to several ex-militants from the Niger-Delta region who accepted the Federal Government’s amnesty, surrendered theirs arms and submitted themselves to be trained in different skills with the view to become useful human beings.

From June 28, 2010 till date, the Obubra ex-militants rehabilitation camp, which was formerly the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) orientation camp, has trained 11 batches of 13,000 ex-militants out of over 20,000 on attitudinal change from violent disposition to non-violent disposition. About 8,000 trainees have been sent abroad for further training on vocational education, the Camp Administrator, Mr Ekpein Appah, told Sunday Trust.

The recent Batch 11, Sunday Trust learnt, is the most unique, controversial and interesting of all the previous batches. This is the batch that constitutes a large number of over 700 female ex-militants who stormed the camp with surprises and revelations.

With the arrival in camp of about 85 pregnant ex-militants, 35 nursing mothers, the batch was thrown into a glare of publicity, exposing what observers belief, is the vulnerability of women and children in time of armed conflicts and highlighting the beauty of reconciliation and reintegration.


Arrival at the Gate: Upon arriving the Obubra Amnesty Camp at about 6:15pm, Saturday, December 18, this reporter observed the tight security within and around the camp. A combined team of armed-to-teeth soldiers, policemen, men of the anti-bomb unit, members of the State Security Service (SSS), Civil Defense and fire fighters were seen patrolling the camp.

“Can you identify yourself, young man?” this reporter was asked one of the security personnel at the entrance to the camp. Sunday Trust correspondent informed the security personnel of his earlier appointment with the camp administrator. Soon, one of them went into the camp and invited the camp administrator for proper identification.

This reporter, alongside other consultants, was frisked to ensure that the security of those who embraced peace as well as their trainers and consultants is not compromised. Every screened visitor to the camp was given a tag that he or she must always carry along.


In the Camp: When Sunday Trust reporter finally gained entry into the camp, accompanied by the administrator, the environment was spectacular. Virtually everyone was dressed in a white T-shirt, white short knickers, white baseball cap with a bold inscription of “AMNESTY: I am 4 Peace” on the T-shirts, which summarizes the business of everyone in the camp. The scenario could be mistaken for a police training college.

Hundreds of female and male ex-militants were seen lined up in a parade supervised by the same military men who had, over the years, tackled them in the creeks. Others were sighted clapping, dancing and singing a traditional song which tells an old story of the Lemon Grass River, according to one of them who attempted to translated the song to this reporter.


Interaction with the ladies: Kezia Eric is from Bayelsa State. She is 36. She was a messenger to the ex-militants. “I never had a boyfriend among them. I was raped many times.” When asked to give details of what actually happened, Kezia simply said “forget, forget. I do not want to talk about it. It makes me sick when I think of it”. On what informed her joining the insurgency, she said, “I was told that all the good things that come from my state were being taken to the Hausa states.” Kezia’s hope in the amnesty was high. She believes that at the end of the training, the federal government will provide her with money to start her own business. She promised never to go back to the creeks no matter what.

Inkwegdbe Appiah is 26. She revealed to this reporter that she had been in the militancy for four and a half years. According to her, she was the women leader in the creeks and her major responsibility was to supply food and coordinate the women on what to do so that when the men return from action, they will have something to eat. “I also ensured that women do not sleep around with the men so that what they use in fighting will not be spoilt.” On what the male ex-militants used to fight, she revealed that they used charms which are believed can be spoiled by rampant sexual relations with women.

“One day, we went out and we were attacked by some military men who shot and killed some of us. I ran into the bush, slept flat on my belly as bullets flew over me. Some of the soldiers stepped over me as they thought I was already dead. When they left, I stood up and was helped by one of us.” This is the most awful experience that Inkwegdbe Appiah will live to remember.

Inkwegbe is now married. She met her husband in the creeks during the insurgency. She told this reporter that, “Some of the ex-militants have attempted to rape me. Then, I was still single. Because they smoke “egwa” and drink alcohol. I shouted at them when I suspect something. Then, they will calm down. But when I see that their morale is higher than my own, I have to back down and stay away. “When you are cool and you see action, you may not do a particular thing. But when you are high in the head and you see action, you can do it without mercy,” she pointed out.

Helen (not real name) is 22. She is one of the over 75 pregnant ex-militants in the camp. She narrated her ugly story in between tears to Sunday Trust reporter. One day as she was returning from school, two ex-militants approached her and requested that she joined them in the creeks as militants. “I rejected the invitation but I was kidnapped into the creeks by the same ex-militants the following week. They attempted to rape me. Fortunately, one among them happened to be from my home town and recognized me and asked them not to touch me.” Helen was warned that any disappointment from her would cost her her life. “I remained loyal and served as their cook and washed their clothes. One day, I sneaked away under the pretext of going to buy something.” She is now discovered pregnant for her supposed protector.

Gift Uso is 25. She is from Akwa Ibom State. She completed her secondary school before joining the militants. She could not further her education because of financial difficulties. Her experience in the creeks is that of killing, bloodshed, stubbornness and suffering, she told this reporter. “I used my sense to calm those (male ex-militants) down when they attempted having sex with me,” she added.


Linda Kerem is 21 from Akwa Ibom State: She was in the militancy for six years. According to her, she was the informant for their camp in the creeks. “I joined the militancy because of the maltreatment of my parents by the Cameroonians who beat them up and sent them over to Nigeria. They suffered neglect and rejection from our country. Some of our uncles are rich but they look down on us because we are poor. So, I had to find a way to survive.” Living in the creeks was not easy for Linda. “At times, we do starve, no drinking water but we had to struggle to survive, we slept in thatch houses.”

My responsibility was to keep my ear to the ground. I visited drinking joints, bough drinks or pretend to be sick so as to gather information on the movement of soldiers and alert our men on their moves. “Sometimes, I went to the beach and paid attention to those who were doing petrol business from Nigerian and Cameroon and listened to what people were saying,” she told Sunday Trust.

However, Linda regrets her past actions. Now, she is looking forward to being a good administrator. She thanked the government for accepting them and forgetting the past.


Interaction with mothers in the camp: Beauty Ruben is 28. She was the first ex-militant to deliver in the amnesty camp. She was cheerfully playing with her new lyborn baby when Sunday Trust reporter visited her in the special hall for nursing mothers in the camp. “I have been in militancy for three years. I was their cook,” she confidently told Sunday Trust. On how she felt, having a baby in such a situation, Beauty said, “I am very happy. I never thought I will give birth to my baby in this camp. As I came into this camp, I have seen many pregnant ladies here, but I happened to be the first to deliver. So I have decided to name my child “Goodluck Amnesty.” On why she could not prevent the pregnancy, Beauty said, “this is the will of and a marvelous gift from God and my baby is a child of the federal government. I believe the government will take care of him.” Beauty thanked the government and the officials of the camp for providing her with what a mother needs to take care of her baby. She said the father of her baby was somewhere far away.


Harmony is 26: She was the second ex-militant who delivered in the Obubra amnesty camp. According to her, she served as a cook for the male ex-militants in the creeks in their days of insurgency. She got engaged with one of them and now has his baby. She is proud of the kid. “I feel good. I’m like every other woman now,” she told Sunday Trust.


Interaction with the male ex- Militants: Sunday Trust reporter met Alhaji Umaru Wasuru while saying his morning prayer. He is 42, a final year student of the University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt. He is from Rivers State. He told Sunday Trust that he had been in the creeks for over six years. He said life in the creeks was restless, tiring and difficult. “We were always on the alert, sleepless nights, coupled with mosquitoes and moving from one place to another to ensure that we achieve our aims,” he said. As regards their activities in the creeks, Umaru says “we isolated ourselves from the communities and went into the creeks where we cannot be easily located. We fell out with the military and we exchanged fire. Generally, life in the creeks was horrible and very unpleasant”

Umaru further told this reporter that they were like wounded lions in the creeks. They were angry all the time and ready for confrontations to achieve their aims.” Sometimes, we go out with our colleagues, but we come back without them. That, to me, was a horrible experience I will never forget.” Umaru noted that he lesson they received in the camp was enough to keep them away from violence.


Religion in the camp: Sunday Trust observed that religion plays a very significant role in the rehabilitation of the ex-militants in the Obubra amnesty camp. The day starts as early as 5:30 am with the sound of a trumpet, reminding the trainees that it is time for morning prayers. Everyone assembled in the prayer hall for the morning sermon and prayers.

Alhaji Umaru Wasuru is a Muslim, who was seen saying his morning prayer. He told Sunday Trust that he did not miss his prayer even in the midst of a violent confrontation in the creeks.

On the 20th of December, life in the camp took a new dimension as every ex-militant was excited over their passing out parade and final journey to their various destinations the next day. The camp was thrown into a festive mood and high ranking military officers were visiting the camp to witness the passing our event. .

The special adviser to the president on Niger Delta Affairs and chairman, Presidential Committee on Amnesty, Mr Timi Alaibe, represented by the camp coordinator, Dr Ferdinand Ikwang, told the ex-militants that the days of fighting for the Niger-Delta was over, pointing out that it was time to fight to improve themselves.

Addressing amnesty trainees, the Special Adviser urged the former fighters to be focused on improving themselves and take the future of the Niger-Delta is in their hands. “Do not allow anybody to derail you and do not be like those who had gone ahead of you. The first step in the rest of your lives starts today,” he stressed.

Speaking to Sunday Trust, the national coordinator, Foundation for Ethics and Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN), Barrister Allen Onyema, confirmed that “so far, 15,000 ex-militants had been trained in the camp,” pointing out that instead of recording deaths, the camp had rather registered two births and had done everything possible to overcome changes in the camp.

The ex-militants took oath of allegiance to renounce violence and remain loyal to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.