Troops of the Nigerian Army have in a swift and decisive maritime operation, successfully rescued eighteen passengers, including two infants, after their vessel was intercepted by sea pirates on the Nigeria-Cameroon waterway.
The rescue took place on 11 January 2026, following the hijacking of a passenger boat en route to Cameroon. Major Yemi Sokoya, the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 13 Brigade, confirmed the details of the engagement to the press in Calabar, stating that the military acted promptly upon receiving a distress signal.
According to Major Sokoya, the pirates operating two speedboats and a wooden craft, ambushed the passenger vessel in the vicinity of the Kombo Fishing Port, within Cameroonian territorial waters. In response, troops from the 13 Brigade deployed at Ikang launched a high-speed pursuit.
A fierce exchange of gunfire ensued as the military intercepted the criminals. During the confrontation, one of the pirates’ speedboats capsized. Faced with the superior firepower of the Nigerian Army, the assailants abandoned their captives and retreated into the dense surrounding creeks.
Remarkably, all eighteen victims were recovered without injury.
Brigadier General P. O. Alimikhena, Commander of the 13 Brigade, lauded the personnel involved in the operation.
“This successful rescue operation demonstrates the courage, professionalism, and unwavering commitment of our men and women to protect lives and ensure the safety of our waterways,” the Brigadier General stated. “We shall continue to dominate our operational environment and safeguard our citizens against all criminal elements.”
The Commander further underscored the necessity of civil-military cooperation, urging the public to provide timely and credible information to security forces. He maintained that such community assistance remains a cornerstone in the ongoing effort to eradicate criminal activity across Cross River State and its maritime borders.
