Uchenna Cecil Izuora
Nigerian Navy personnel from Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka launched a swift gunboat response around 3:50 p.m. Sunday to foil a suspected sea robbery and kidnap attempt on a passenger boat traveling from Ibaka in Akwa Ibom State to Bakassi in Cameroon. All 16 passengers were rescued unharmed after naval teams intercepted armed assailants on the vital cross-border waterway.
Distress reports triggered immediate deployment of gunboats to deny criminals operational freedom along the busy Nigeria-Cameroon maritime corridor. Upon arrival, the naval unit engaged the sea robbers in a brief firefight, forcing them to abandon the attack and flee into surrounding coastal creeks.
The intervention prevented what could have become a major robbery or kidnapping incident. Personnel then secured the distressed vessel, verified all passengers were safe with no casualties, and escorted the boat toward the international boundary for secure continuation to its destination.
FOB Ibaka’s rapid action demonstrates heightened operational readiness on the strategic Ibaka-Calabar routes. Over the past four months, Eastern Naval Command patrols have thwarted at least three similar sea robbery and kidnap attempts, significantly reducing maritime criminal activity and safeguarding trade routes and passenger safety.