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 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 the report, personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka, in collaboration with Operation Delta Safe Sector 4 and the Marine Police, launched a coordinated search and rescue 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 escaped during the attack were subsequently located and accounted for at the Operation Delta Safe Sector 4 command post.
The 22 rescued passengers were taken to the FOB Ibaka Sickbay for medical assessment and first aid before arrangements were made for their safe return to Calabar with the recovered boat. The Nigerian Navy said no ransom was paid for their release.
The Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie, reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to strengthening maritime security, enhancing inter-agency collaboration and leveraging timely intelligence to tackle criminal activities along Nigeria’s waterways.
The Navy said the successful operation demonstrates its determination to protect lives, safeguard legitimate maritime activities and deny sea robbers, kidnappers and other maritime criminals freedom of action.
The Service further pledged to sustain joint operations with sister security agencies and other stakeholders to combat sea robbery, kidnapping and other forms of maritime criminality across the nation’s waterways.
