In a dramatic and successful operation, troops of the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have rescued 18 passengers, including two infants, after their passenger boat was hijacked by suspected sea pirates while travelling from Nigeria to Cameroon on Sunday.
According to an official statement by Major Yemi Sokoya, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, the boat was intercepted near the Kombo Fishing Port within Cameroonian waterways. A distress call was issued when suspected pirates, believed to be armed and operating in two speedboats and a wooden vessel, seized the boat and abducted its passengers.
Responding rapidly to the call, troops deployed at Ikang pursued the attackers along the waterway. An exchange of gunfire ensued, during which one of the pirates’ speedboats capsized, forcing the criminals to abandon their hostages and flee into nearby creeks.
All 18 passengers, including the two infants, were recovered unharmed and reunited with security forces. No casualties among the rescued passengers have been reported.
Brigadier General P.O. Alimikhena, Commander of the 13 Brigade, praised the troops’ swift action and professionalism, calling the operation a clear demonstration of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to protecting lives and securing waterways against criminal networks. He also urged communities to continue sharing credible information that can help security forces in tackling maritime crime.
This incident highlights ongoing security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea maritime corridor, a region prone to piracy and armed robbery, as commercial and passenger traffic between Nigeria and neighboring countries continues to grow.
