The Nigerian Navy has rescued 22 maritime passengers, whose wooden boat was hijacked by sea armed robbers along the Calabar–Oron–Ibaka waterway and recovered the hijacked vessel.

Personnel of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka) in collaboration with Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) Sector 4 and the Marine Police conducted the operation following the attack on the passenger boat travelling from Henshaw Town Beach in Calabar to Utan Uyata, Ibaka, on 11 August 2026.

Naval Spokesman, Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, said the boat was intercepted by the armed sea robbers shortly after passing Enwang Community, resulting in the hijacking of the vessel and the abduction of its passengers.

Folorunsho said that upon receipt of information on the incident, personnel of FOB Ibaka, in coordination with the collaborating security agencies, commenced coordinated efforts to locate the victims and recover the hijacked boat.

“The sustained response resulted in the recovery of the hijacked passenger boat and the rescue of 11 victims who had been abandoned by the suspected criminals at Asak-Ikang Creek.

“A further 11 passengers who had earlier 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,” he said.

According to him, all the rescued passengers were subsequently 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 passenger boat. No ransom was paid for the release of the victims.

Folorunsho said that the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie, reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to sustaining robust maritime security operations, strengthening inter-agency collaboration and leveraging timely intelligence to deny criminal elements freedom of action along the nation’s waterways.

He said the rescue further demonstrates the Nigerian Navy’s determination to protect lives, safeguard legitimate maritime activities and maintain a secure maritime environment, adding that the Service will continue to sustain operations in collaboration with sister security agencies and other stakeholders to counter sea robbery, kidnapping and other forms of maritime criminality.