Navy saves 22 passengers from sea robbers in Cross River

The Nigerian Navy, working with Operation Delta Safe Sector 4 and the Marine Police, has rescued 22 passengers attacked by suspected sea robbers. This incident happened along the Calabar-Oron-Ibaka waterway in Cross River State.

The rescue took place after a wooden passenger boat was hijacked while traveling from Henshaw Town Beach in Calabar to Utan Uyata, Ibaka, on Tuesday.

Navy Capt. Adebowale Omotosho, the Commanding Officer of the Forward Operating Base in Ibaka, shared this information in a statement on Thursday.

According to the statement, the boat was attacked shortly after it passed the Enwang community. Five armed men in a speedboat intercepted the vessel and took control of the boat and its passengers.

Omotosho said, "Responding swiftly to intelligence reports, naval personnel launched sustained patrols and established a strategic naval blockade along the creek networks."

He noted that the security operation forced the suspected kidnappers to leave their captives and the hijacked boat at Asak-Ikang Creek on Wednesday. The attackers fled towards Oron after abandoning the scene.

The statement added that naval personnel, alongside other security agencies, quickly searched the creek and rescued 11 passengers left behind by the attackers.

Another 11 passengers, who had escaped during the initial attack, were later found and debriefed at the Operation Delta Safe Sector 4 command post.

"This brings the total number of accounted-for victims to 22," the statement said.

The rescued passengers were taken to the FOB Ibaka Sickbay for medical checks and first aid.

"After being stabilised, they were escorted back to Calabar along with the recovered passenger boat," the statement continued.

The operation was carried out without any ransom payment, according to the Navy.

In response to the incident, Rear Admiral Chiedozie Okehie, Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command, reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s waterways. He stated that the Navy will keep up its patrols, improve collaboration with other agencies, and use timely intelligence to fight maritime crime.

Okehie assured law-abiding residents and passengers that the Navy is dedicated to securing the nation's waterways and supporting legitimate maritime activities.