As the Federal Government's amnesty to militants in Niger Delta continues to elicit mixed reactions, a militant in Bayelsa State, Joshua Maciver a.k.a. Tukpa, has surrendered his arms and ammunition with over 400 loyalists.

Maciver, who used to operate a camp in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, said he genuinely gave up militancy since July 18 last year, without demanding anything from the government.

The militant, who spoke with journalists on Monday in Yenagoa, said that some of his former colleagues threatened to kill him when he abandoned militancy, adding that that was the reason he was currently taking refuge in a guesthouse inside Government House.

Maciver regretted that some militants invaded his camp and carted away a cache of arms and ammunitions, saying that he had already reported the matter to the Police, JTF and State Security Service (SSS).

While commending President Umaru Yar'Adua for granting amnesty to militants in the region, the former militant leader confessed that he used to be deadly in the creeks before he turned a new leaf.

He said all his loyalists have renounced militancy, as none of them defected to another camp.

He said he shunned militancy after taking a closer view of their activities, which he noted was counter-productive to the development of the region.

"The decision to lay down my arms at the time was not borne out of any premise of monetary overtures or inducement by the Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva; but with sincerity of purpose.