By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Nigerian Navy has rescued 22 passengers abducted during the hijacking of a wooden passenger boat along the Calabar–Oron–Ibaka waterway in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.
The incident occurred on August 11, 2026, when the passenger boat, travelling from Henshaw Town Beach in Calabar to Utan Uyata, Ibaka, was intercepted by armed sea robbers shortly after passing Enwang Community.
Following reports of the attack, personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka, in collaboration with Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) Sector 4 and the Marine Police, launched a coordinated operation to locate the victims and recover the hijacked vessel.
The operation led to the recovery of the boat and the rescue of 11 passengers who had been abandoned by the suspected criminals at Asak-Ikang Creek.
Another 11 passengers who had escaped during the attack were subsequently located and accounted for at the OPDS Sector 4 command post, bringing the total number of rescued and accounted-for victims to 22.
The Navy said all the passengers were taken to the FOB Ibaka Sickbay for medical assessment and first aid before arrangements were made for their safe return to Calabar alongside the recovered boat.
It added that no ransom was paid for the release of the victims.
The Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie, reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to strengthening maritime security operations and inter-agency collaboration, as well as leveraging timely intelligence to deny criminals freedom of action along Nigeria’s waterways.
Okehie said the successful rescue demonstrated the Navy’s determination to protect lives, safeguard legitimate maritime activities and maintain a secure maritime environment.
He assured that the service would continue to work with sister security agencies and other stakeholders to combat sea robbery, kidnapping and other forms of maritime criminality.
