Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
The Nigerian Navy has rescued two kidnapped victims and recovered several stolen outboard engines during an operation against sea robbery and kidnapping in the general area of Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State, in what the service described as a demonstration of the importance of credible intelligence and community support in enhancing maritime security.
The operation was conducted on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, by the Nigerian Navy Ship Jubilee Maritime Quick Response Team, Ibeno, following credible information on the activities of suspected sea robbers and kidnappers targeting fishermen and forcibly taking away fishing boats and outboard engines, according to a statement shared on Thursday and signed by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho. The response team swiftly mobilised to the area to counter the threat, engaging two boats suspected to have been operated by the criminals. The occupants fled into adjoining creeks as the naval personnel launched a pursuit, abandoning one of the boats which contained several stolen outboard engines and the two kidnapped victims. The victims were immediately rescued by the naval team and escorted to safety, while the recovered engines were secured for verification and further necessary action. Efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend the fleeing suspects.
The Commander of NNS Jubilee, Commodore Mohammed Manga, who disclosed the operation to the News Agency of Nigeria in Uyo, provided additional details, saying the naval gunboat sighted and engaged the two suspected criminal boats, forcing the occupants to divert into nearby creeks in an attempt to evade the security forces. He said personnel of the response team, in conjunction with a community surveillance outfit, mobilised to the area to counter the criminal activities. Manga urged owners of the recovered outboard engines to provide proof of ownership in order to reclaim their property, and reaffirmed the commitment of NNS Jubilee to sustaining aggressive patrols and coordinated operations to curb sea robbery, kidnapping and other forms of maritime crime.
The Navy said the successful operation underscored its sustained commitment to search and rescue, the protection of lives and the security of legitimate maritime activities across Nigeria's waters. "The operation also demonstrates the importance of credible intelligence and community support in enhancing maritime security," the statement read. The service encouraged coastal communities, fishermen and other maritime stakeholders to continue providing timely information that could assist in preventing criminal activities and responding rapidly to persons in distress, and said it would continue to conduct proactive patrols, search and rescue operations and intelligence-driven interventions aimed at protecting lives and property while denying criminal elements freedom of action in the nation's waterways.
The rescue is the latest in a series of naval operations targeting criminal activity along Akwa Ibom's riverine corridors. In August 2026, the Nigerian Navy rescued 22 passengers who were abducted by suspected sea robbers after their wooden passenger boat was hijacked along the Calabar–Oron–Ibaka waterway. The incident occurred on August 11, and the victims were rescued after a coordinated operation. In March 2026, the Navy foiled a sea robbery attempt and rescued 16 passengers along the Ibaka–Calabar Channel after suspected criminals intercepted a fibre passenger boat conveying civilians from Ibaka in Akwa Ibom State to Bakassi in Cameroon. In April 2026, gunmen ambushed a passenger boat along the Calabar–Oron waterway, abducting at least 15 passengers, including candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. The victims were subsequently rescued in a joint operation involving the police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other security agencies. The recurrence of these incidents reflects the persistent threat posed by sea robbers and kidnappers operating in the creeks and waterways of the Niger Delta, where the dense mangrove forests and labyrinthine river systems provide cover for criminal groups and complicate pursuit by security forces.
The broader security context in the region is one of sustained pressure on maritime infrastructure and riverine communities. Fishermen, traders and travellers who depend on the waterways for their livelihoods are frequently targeted by armed groups who seize boats and outboard engines, often demanding ransoms for the release of abducted victims. The economic impact is significant, as fishing and riverine trade are critical sources of income for communities across Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa and Rivers states. The Navy has maintained a network of operational bases and forward operating bases across the Niger Delta, including NNS Jubilee in Ikot Abasi, which oversees the eastern maritime flank bordering Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. The service has also worked with community surveillance outfits and local fishermen to gather intelligence on criminal movements, a model that has produced results in several recent operations.
The rescued victims have not been publicly identified, and the Navy has not disclosed whether they required medical attention or whether they have been reunited with their families. The suspects remain at large, and the Navy has urged the public to provide information that could assist in their apprehension. For the fishermen and coastal communities of Ibeno and the surrounding areas, the operation represents a measure of relief and a reminder that the Navy remains active in the creeks, even as the threat persists. For the Navy, the rescue is another success in a campaign that relies heavily on intelligence from the communities it serves. As the service put it, credible intelligence and community support remain essential to maritime security, and the operation of September 30 was a testament to what can be achieved when the Navy and the people it protects work together.
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