By JOHN NWOKOCHA Editor Abuja
The Nigerian Navy has foiled an attempted sea robbery rescuing 16 passengers along the Ibaka-Calabar Channel during a swift, coordinated maritime security operation on Sunday.
The suspected robbers were holding civilian travellers in their fibre boat hostage, planning to kidnap and move them into the creeks. They were travelling to Bakassi in Cameron when the robbers intercepted their boat.
The Navy acted swiftly following a credible intelligence indicating suspicious maritime criminal activity around Buoy 12 along the strategic Ibaka-Calabar maritime corridor.
Accordingly, gunboats from the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) IBAKA were immediately vectored to the area to intercept the suspected criminals and deny them freedom of action and restore order within the channel.Upon arrival at the objective area, the naval patrol team encountered suspected sea robbers.
The Nigerian Navy gunboats engaged the criminals, rescued the hostages and compelled them to flee into the shallow creeks adjacent to the channel.
All the rescued passengers were confirmed safe, unharmed and in good health.
The passengers were subsequently escorted by Nigerian Navy personnel to the Nigeria-Cameroon maritime border to ensure their safe passage and continuation of the journey, in line with established operational procedures.
The Nigerian Navy said in a statement that the successful operation reflects its sustained operational presence and proactive posture in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime environment, and also underscores the commitment of the Nigerian Navy to ensure that Nigerian waters are safe and secure for commercial trade.
The Nigerian Navy, reassures maritime stakeholders and the general public of its unwavering resolve to combat maritime crime, protect lives and property at sea.
