Navy foils sea robbery, rescues 16 passengers on Ibaka–Calabar Channel
The Nigerian Navy has foiled a suspected sea robbery attack and rescued 16 passengers along the Ibaka-Calabar Channel. The service said the operation followed credible intelligence on suspicious criminal activity
The Nigerian Navy has foiled a suspected sea robbery attack and rescued 16 passengers along the Ibaka-Calabar Channel.
The service said the operation followed credible intelligence on suspicious criminal activity around Buoy 12 along the strategic corridor.
According to the statement by the Director of Naval Information (DINFO), Captain Abiodun Folorinsho, gunboats from the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ibaka were deployed to the area on Sunday to intercept the suspects.
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On arrival, the team encountered suspected sea robbers who had intercepted a fibre passenger boat travelling from Ibaka in Akwa Ibom State to Bakassi in Cameroon.
The suspects, he said, had taken the civilians hostage with plans to abduct them into the creeks but were prevented by their operatives who engaged them, forcing them to flee into nearby shallow creeks without the passengers.
“All 16 passengers were confirmed safe and unharmed. The Navy subsequently escorted the passengers to the Nigeria-Cameroon maritime border to ensure the safe continuation of their journey, he said.
“The successful operation underscores the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s maritime domain and combating sea robbery and other crimes on Nigerian waters. It also aligns with the vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, to build a modern, agile and professional naval force capable of securing Nigeria’s maritime interests,” he added.
