Navy Rescues 22 Sea Robbery Victims, Recovers Hijacked Boat in Akwa Ibom

Navy Rescues 22 Sea Robbery Victims

Navy Rescues 22 Sea Robbery Victims, Recovers Hijacked Boat in Akwa Ibom

The Nigerian Navy has rescued 22 passengers following the hijacking of a wooden passenger boat by suspected sea robbers along the Calabar–Oron–Ibaka waterway in Akwa Ibom State. The operation, conducted on August 11, 2026, was carried out by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka, in collaboration with Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) Sector 4 and the Marine Police. This coordinated effort demonstrates the Navy’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Nigeria’s waterways and the people who depend on them for transportation and livelihood.

The operation followed an attack on a passenger boat travelling from Henshaw Town Beach in Calabar to Utan Uyata, Ibaka. According to the Commanding Officer of FOB Ibaka, Navy Captain Adebowale Omotosho, the passenger boat came under attack shortly after passing the Enwang community when five armed men in a speedboat intercepted the vessel and took control of the boat and its passengers. The attackers, armed with dangerous weapons, threatened the passengers and forcibly took over the vessel, leaving the victims terrified and helpless in the middle of the waterway.

The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed in a statement that the passengers were abducted while the vessel was hijacked. Following receipt of the distress information, personnel of FOB Ibaka and collaborating security agencies launched a coordinated operation to locate the victims and recover the hijacked boat. The swift response by the security forces was critical in ensuring that the criminals were unable to escape with their captives and that the vessel was recovered without any loss of life.

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The security operation forced the suspected kidnappers to abandon their captives and the hijacked boat at Asak-Ikang Creek on Wednesday before fleeing towards Oron. Naval personnel, working with collaborating security agencies, immediately conducted a sweep of the creek and rescued 11 passengers who had been abandoned by the attackers. Another 11 passengers who had escaped during the initial attack were subsequently located and debriefed at the OPDS Sector 4 command post, bringing the total number of rescued and accounted-for victims to 22. The successful rescue operation highlights the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration and the importance of timely intelligence in combating maritime crime.

The rescued passengers were taken to the FOB Ibaka Sickbay for medical assessment and first aid before arrangements were made for their safe return to Calabar alongside the recovered boat. The Navy confirmed that no ransom was paid for their release, underscoring the professionalism and commitment of the security forces to protecting citizens without capitulating to the demands of criminals. The passengers, though traumatized by their ordeal, were reported to be in stable condition and grateful for the timely intervention of the Navy and other security agencies.

The Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie, reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to strengthening maritime security, enhancing inter-agency cooperation and leveraging timely intelligence to deny criminals freedom of action along the nation’s waterways. Okehie said the successful operation underscored the Navy’s determination to protect lives, safeguard legitimate maritime activities and maintain a secure maritime environment. He emphasized that the Navy would continue to adopt proactive measures to prevent such incidents and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

He added that the Nigerian Navy would continue to work with sister security agencies and other stakeholders to combat sea robbery, kidnapping and other forms of maritime criminality across the country’s waterways. This successful operation follows recent naval efforts in the region, including the destruction of a suspected militant camp in Cross River State and the rescue of three passengers in a separate operation in Akwa Ibom earlier in August 2026. The Navy’s sustained presence and proactive operations in the region have contributed to a significant reduction in maritime crime and increased confidence among waterway users.