NAVY RESCUES 22 PASSENGERS FROM SEA ROBBERS IN CROSS RIVER
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with Operation Delta Safe Sector 4 and the Marine Police, has rescued 22 passengers who were attacked by suspected sea robbers along the Calabar-Oron-Ibaka waterway in Cross River State.
The passengers were reportedly travelling in a wooden boat from Henshaw Town Beach in Calabar to Utan Uyata, Ibaka, when the vessel was hijacked on Tuesday.
The Commanding Officer of the Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, Navy Capt. Adebowale Omotosho, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to him, the boat was intercepted shortly after passing the Enwang community by five armed men travelling in a speedboat.
The attackers reportedly took control of the vessel and its passengers.
Omotosho said security operatives, acting on intelligence, immediately launched sustained patrols and established a naval blockade across the creek networks.
The operation reportedly forced the attackers to abandon the passengers and the hijacked boat at Asak-Ikang Creek on Wednesday before fleeing towards Oron.
Naval personnel and other security agencies subsequently conducted a sweep of the creek and rescued 11 passengers who had been abandoned by the attackers.
Another 11 passengers who had escaped during the initial attack were later located and debriefed at the Operation Delta Safe Sector 4 command post, bringing the total number of accounted-for victims to 22.
The rescued passengers were taken to the FOB Ibaka Sickbay for medical evaluation and first aid before being escorted back to Calabar alongside the recovered passenger boat.
The Navy said the operation was conducted without the payment of ransom.
Reacting to the rescue, the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Chiedozie Okehie, reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s maritime domain and ensuring the safety of citizens using the waterways.
Okehie said the Navy would sustain patrols, strengthen collaboration with other security agencies and deploy timely intelligence to tackle maritime criminality.
He assured residents and passengers using the waterways that the Navy remained committed to protecting legitimate maritime activities and safeguarding lives and property.
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