The Forward Operating Base (FOB) of Nigerian Navy, in Bonny, has foiled an attempted kidnap of 15 passengers at Opuadakiri community in Bonny Local Government Area, Rivers State.
The Base Operations Officer, Lieutenant Commander Siraj Almustapha, in a statement issued on Saturday, said the feat was in continuation of various operational activities and tasks aimed at actualising the operational objectives of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla.
Almustapha mentioned some of the operational activities to include routine patrols, anti-crude oil theft (COT), anti-illegal bunkering and anti-kidnapping operations.
He said the patrols involve the protection of critical national infrastructure and securing the commercial routes within the Base’s Area of Operation (AOO).
Speaking on the operation, Base Operations Officer said on Friday, March 28, 2025 that the FOB Bonny Anti-Kidnapping team embarked on routine patrol around Bonny Anchorage, Open Water and Yellow Platform up to the limit of the Base’s Area of Operation, when it received a distress call of suspected sea pirates diverting a passenger boat to the creek.
“During the patrol, security checks were carried out on passenger boats plying through the area. At about 14:20 hours, the team received a report that 15 passengers in a market boat were forced into a creek by unknown armed men suspected to be kidnappers around Opuadakiri community.
“On receipt of the report, the FOB Bonny patrol team swiftly moved into the creek in pursuit. However, on sighting the naval gunboats, the criminals abandoned the boat and escaped.
“FOB Bonny patrol team rescued the victims unhurt. A debrief of the victims, conducted by the Base Operations Officer, Lieutenant Commander Siraj Almustapha, revealed that the incident occurred when the market boat was enroute to Port Harcourt from Bonny Island.”
