Nigeria's Joint Task Force has taken over eight more militant camps in the southern Rivers state in the Niger Delta in the latest clampdown on militants in the oil-rich part of the country.
In a statement on Sunday, Nigeria's Military Spokesman Timothy Antigha said, "The Joint Task Force (JTF) has taken over eight camps formerly owned by Ateke Tom during the stormy days of militancy in the Niger Delta," AFP reported.
According to JTF Commander Major General Charles Omoregie the militant leader laid down arms and surrendered the camps voluntarily.
There are conflicting reports about the number of civilians killed in the operations.
The military has staged a series of raids in recent weeks targeting John Togo, the most wanted militant leader of the Niger Delta Liberation Force.
A campaign of oil pipeline bombings and high-profile kidnappings has been ongoing in the region since 2006.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta blames the government for not equally distributing energy revenues from the Niger Delta's resources.
Oil exports of the country account for 80 percent of government earnings.
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