The military joint task force in Imo State has given militants operating in Awarra, Assah and Obile communities, two days to drop their arms or face a fierce military attack.
The ultimatum follows a demonstration by hundreds of women from those communities.
The women met with the soldiers and appealed to them to go easy on their crackdown on suspected cultists.
They say the communities had already started talks with the militants, on how they will surrender their arms.
The soldiers agreed to cease fire until the ultimatum elapses. Only yesterday, nine people were killed when soldiers exchanged fire with the militants, in Awarra.