The first batch of 2,000 ex-militants currently undergoing transformational training at the Federal Government’s Post Amnesty Camp in Obubra, Cross River State have graduated.

The Weekend Tide’s source reports that the trainees received their certificates on Thursday at Obubra after completing their mandatory two-week training.

The repentant militants were certified by Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Presenting the certificates to the ex-militants, Mr Allen Onyema, National Chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN), the body responsible for the training, urged them never to go back to their old ways.

Onyema also told them to guard their certificates jealously, as it was from one of the most prestigious universities and acceptable anywhere in the world.

“Be proud of yourselves, be proud of your certificate. And know that you cannot go back to your old ways of life,” he said.

He also urged those, who did not pass to be more serious with their training as they were going to be given another chance.

Some of the successful ex-militants also spoke at the occasion.

Mr Chidika Wokem, from Rivers State said, “Thank you FEHN for imparting knowledge in us. As it is, I have been transformed and as I am leaving this place, I will go and tell the larger society.

“I will talk about peace and tranquility and how much we can achieve by abiding by them.”

Mr Zachariah Pabo from Bayelsa State said, “From now we will resort to non-violence in solving our problems. We thank FEHN and the Federal Government for their efforts in trying to transform us.”

Mr Ogede Parkins also from Bayelsa said, “We have been taught so much about Martin Luther King and how much he achieved through non-violence. All of us want to be better persons.

“We have already changed and we would not go back to our old ways of life. God bless you for teaching us non-violence,” he said.