Navy Rescues 22 Sea Robbery Victims, Recovers Hijacked Boat in Akwa Ibom

The Nigerian Navy has rescued 22 passengers following the hijacking of a wooden passenger boat by suspected sea robbers along the Calabar–Oron–Ibaka waterway in Akwa Ibom State.

The operation also led to the recovery of the hijacked vessel and was carried out by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka in collaboration with Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) Sector 4 and the Marine Police.

According to a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the incident occurred on August 11, 2026, when the passenger boat was travelling from Henshaw Town Beach in Calabar to Utan Uyata, Ibaka.

The vessel was reportedly intercepted by armed sea robbers shortly after passing Enwang Community, leading to the hijacking of the boat and abduction of its passengers.

Following information about the attack, personnel of FOB Ibaka, working with the collaborating security agencies, launched a coordinated search and rescue operation to locate the victims and recover the vessel.

The operation resulted in the rescue of 11 passengers who were abandoned by the suspected criminals at Asak-Ikang Creek. Another 11 passengers who had escaped during the attack were subsequently located at the OPDS Sector 4 command post, bringing the total number of rescued and accounted-for victims to 22.

The rescued passengers were taken to the FOB Ibaka Sickbay for medical assessment and first aid before arrangements were made to return them safely to Calabar alongside the recovered boat.

The Navy said no ransom was paid for the release of the victims.

The Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie, reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy's commitment to strengthening maritime security and inter-agency collaboration to combat criminal activities along the nation's waterways.

Okehie also stressed the importance of timely intelligence in denying criminals freedom of action in Nigeria's maritime domain.

He said the successful operation demonstrated the Navy's determination to protect lives, safeguard legitimate maritime activities and maintain a secure environment for maritime transportation.

The Nigerian Navy, he added, would continue to work with sister security agencies and other stakeholders to tackle sea robbery, kidnapping and other forms of maritime criminality across the country's waterways.