Complex sentence: On 4 November 1978 Walls issued an announcement to the press that 2,000 Patriotic Front soldiers had been persuaded to lay down their arms, this figure has been placed at closer to 50.
Split into simpler sentences: On 4 November 1978 Walls claimed that 2,000 Patriotic Front militants had been persuaded to defect. This figure has been placed at closer to 50.