Nigerian Navy has rescued 22 passengers abducted by suspected sea robbers after their boat was hijacked along the Calabar–Oron–Ibaka waterway in Akwa Ibom State.
Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Saturday in Abuja
Captain Folorunsho said the incident happened on August 11 when the wooden passenger boat, travelling from Henshaw Town Beach in Calabar to Utan Uyata in Ibaka, was intercepted by armed men shortly after passing Enwang Community.
He explained that the attackers took control of the boat and abducted the passengers, triggering a coordinated search by personnel of the Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka, Operation Delta Safe Sector 4 and the Marine Police.
According to him, the operation paid off with the recovery of the hijacked boat and the rescue of 11 passengers who were abandoned by the attackers at Asak-Ikang Creek.
Another 11 passengers who escaped during the attack were later located at the Operation Delta Safe Sector 4 command post, bringing the total number of rescued and accounted-for victims to 22.
The rescued passengers were taken to the FOB Ibaka Sickbay for medical checks and first aid before arrangements were made to return them safely to Calabar alongside the recovered boat.
The Naval spokesman added that no ransom was paid for their release.
The successful operation comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns over criminal activities on Nigeria’s waterways, where passenger boats remain a critical means of movement for coastal communities. The swift response also highlights the importance of intelligence sharing and cooperation between security agencies in preventing maritime criminals from turning the waterways into safe havens.
He quoted the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie, as reaffirming the Navy’s commitment to sustained maritime security operations and stronger collaboration with sister agencies to deny criminals freedom of action on the nation’s waterways.
He said the Navy would continue to protect lives, legitimate maritime activities and the wider maritime environment while tackling sea robbery, kidnapping and other forms of maritime criminality.
