Twenty-two passengers have been rescued after suspected sea robbers hijacked their boat along the Calabar-Oron-Ibaka route in Cross River State.
The rescue was carried out by the Nigerian Navy in partnership with Operation Delta Safe Sector 4 and the Marine Police.
The passengers were travelling from Henshaw Town Beach in Calabar to Utan Uyata, Ibaka, on Tuesday when their wooden boat was intercepted by five armed men travelling in a speedboat.
The attackers reportedly took over the vessel shortly after it passed Enwang community, forcing the passengers into their custody.
The Commanding Officer of the Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, Navy Capt. Adebowale Omotosho, said security personnel swung into action after receiving information about the incident.
Omotosho said, “Responding swiftly to intelligence reports, naval personnel launched sustained patrols and established a strategic naval blockade along the creek networks.”
The increased security presence reportedly forced the attackers to abandon the passengers and the boat at Asak-Ikang Creek on Wednesday before escaping in the direction of Oron.
During a search of the area, naval personnel found 11 passengers who had been abandoned by the attackers.
Another 11 passengers who had escaped during the attack were subsequently traced and taken to the Operation Delta Safe Sector 4 command post, bringing the total number of rescued passengers to 22.
“This brings the total number of accounted-for victims to 22,” the statement said.
The passengers were taken to the FOB Ibaka Sickbay for medical checks and first aid. After receiving treatment, they were escorted back to Calabar with the recovered boat.
“After being stabilised, they were escorted back to Calabar alongside the successfully recovered passenger boat,” the statement added.
The Navy said no ransom was paid during the operation.
The Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Chiedozie Okehie, said the Navy would continue to strengthen patrols and work with other security agencies to tackle criminal activities on the waterways.
He assured passengers and residents that security operations would be sustained to protect legitimate activities across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
