Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
CALABAR, Nigeria – The Nigerian Navy has handed over a suspected militant collaborator to the Department of State Services (DSS) in Calabar, following weeks of intelligence-driven operations along the state’s volatile waterways. The suspect, Ime Edet Ekiko, a clergyman widely known as “Pastor Ime,” was arrested on May 24, 2026, by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) VICTORY at a forward security outpost on Dayspring Island in the Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The announcement, made on June 5, 2026, sent shockwaves through the oil-rich Niger Delta, where religious leaders have historically enjoyed considerable moral authority and community trust. Naval authorities said the arrest followed credible intelligence linking the pastor to a wanted militant identified only as Simeon, alias “Papi,” who had been operating within the Dayspring Island axis. According to a statement by Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the Director of Naval Information, sustained operational pressure from NNS VICTORY forced the fugitive militant to flee the area, but not before abandoning certain operational assets in the clergyman’s custody.
Initial investigations revealed that the suspect had maintained a long-standing relationship with the militant, allegedly providing information on the movement and deployment of security personnel. Intelligence findings also connected Pastor Ime to the concealment of equipment believed to have been used to support militant activities, including kidnapping and piracy, within the waterways. Further forensic exploitation of the suspect’s mobile devices and subsequent interrogation confirmed that he had been in regular communication with the fugitive for an extended period.
One of the most damaging revelations is that the suspect was reportedly using assets abandoned by the fleeing militant for his own personal business operations. Captain Folorunsho noted that these assets included operational equipment, though the Navy has not publicly detailed the full inventory of items seized. Following the conclusion of preliminary investigations, the suspect was formally transferred to the DSS for further inquiry and possible prosecution in accordance with Nigeria’s extant laws.
The arrest has ignited fierce public debate in Cross River State. Many residents of Calabar and the surrounding waterway communities have expressed shock, given the suspect’s status as a pastor. Religious leaders have called for transparency and due process, urging authorities to ensure that the clergyman’s rights are fully respected and that allegations are thoroughly and fairly investigated before any conclusions are drawn. Human rights advocates have equally stressed the importance of the presumption of innocence, calling on security agencies to handle the case with professionalism and adherence to the rule of law.
The Nigerian Navy has simultaneously tightened security across the Calabar waterways. In the wake of the arrest, additional patrol vessels, personnel, and surveillance assets have been deployed to the region. Stop-and-search operations, intelligence-led patrols, and community engagement exercises are now being conducted to root out militant elements and restore confidence among waterway users, fishing communities, and maritime traders. The Navy’s actions are part of a broader crackdown that began earlier in the year, following the establishment of the forward security outpost on Dayspring Island in response to rising incidents of kidnapping and other criminal activities within the Calabar–Oron water channel.
On May 4, 2026, the Navy imposed a 13-hour movement restriction along the Calabar–Oron waterway to curb piracy and smuggling. Days later, on May 5, troops raided Cross River creeks, forcing militants to flee and abandoning two fibre boats and a 200-horsepower outboard engine, which were subsequently recovered. Captain Folorunsho has said the sustained intelligence-driven operations and persistent naval presence have continued to degrade the capabilities of criminal elements, disrupt their support networks, and enhance security across the maritime environment.
“The handover represents another significant outcome of the ongoing security operations initiated by NNS VICTORY,” Captain Folorunsho said. “The Service remains committed to sustaining pressure on criminal elements and their collaborators until lasting security is achieved and legitimate economic activities can thrive within the maritime environment.”
The Cross River State Government is yet to issue an official statement on the arrest, but sources indicate that state security officials are in close communication with the Navy regarding the development and its implications for security across the state. The Navy has urged residents of Calabar and surrounding waterway communities to remain calm, cooperate with security personnel, and report any suspicious activities or individuals to the nearest naval or police authority.
As the DSS now takes over the case, questions linger about the extent of militant infiltration into religious and community leadership structures in the Niger Delta. For a region long scarred by oil theft, kidnapping, and maritime crime, the image of a pastor in naval custody is a stark reminder that no institution is immune.
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