The Nigerian Navy has foiled a sea robbery operation along the Calabar–Oron–Ibaka waterway, rescuing 22 passengers and recovering a hijacked passenger boat in Akwa Ibom State.
According to an official statement signed by Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, the operation followed the hijacking of a wooden passenger boat travelling from Henshaw Town Beach in Calabar to Utan Uyata, Ibaka, on August 11, 2026.
The boat was reportedly intercepted by armed sea robbers shortly after passing Enwang Community, after which the criminals hijacked the vessel and abducted its passengers.
Following information on the incident, personnel of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka, in collaboration with Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) Sector 4 and the Marine Police, launched a coordinated search and rescue operation to locate the victims and recover the vessel.
The operation resulted in the recovery of the hijacked boat and the rescue of 11 victims who had been abandoned by the suspected sea robbers at Asak-Ikang Creek.
A further 11 passengers who had escaped during the attack were subsequently located and accounted for at the OPDS Sector 4 command post, bringing the total number of rescued and accounted-for passengers to 22.
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 passenger boat.
The Navy disclosed that no ransom was paid for the release of the passengers.
The Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie, reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to sustaining robust maritime security operations and strengthening inter-agency collaboration to deny criminal elements freedom of action along the nation’s waterways.
Okehie said the successful operation demonstrated the Navy’s determination to protect lives, safeguard legitimate maritime activities and maintain a secure maritime environment.
He further assured that the Nigerian Navy would continue to sustain operations in collaboration with sister security agencies and other stakeholders to counter sea robbery, kidnapping and other forms of maritime criminality.
The latest operation highlights the importance of timely intelligence and coordinated responses among security agencies in protecting passengers and legitimate maritime activities along Nigeria’s waterways.
