Navy R€scues Three Passengers as Sea Robbers Att∆ck Boat in Akwa Ibom
Navy Rescues Three Passengers as Sea Robbers Attack Boat in Akwa Ibom
The Nigerian Navy has rescued three passengers from a suspected sea robbery attack along the waterways in Akwa Ibom State, in an operation that underscores the service’s growing capacity for rapid response in the nation’s increasingly contested maritime domain. The rescue was carried out by personnel of the Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, under the Eastern Naval Command during a routine night patrol on Tuesday, July 29, 2026, according to a statement issued on Monday, August 3, 2026, by the Commanding Officer of the Forward Operating Base, Navy Captain Adebowale Omotosho.
The patrol team responded after receiving a distress alert at about 9:30 p.m. from a passing boat reporting an ongoing sea robbery attack around the Mbendoro waters. The naval team immediately proceeded to the location, where they rescued a passenger boat loaded with tomatoes and its three occupants. The statement identified the rescued passengers as David Okon, Anietie Friday and David Edet. The victims were travelling from Cameroon to Oron in Akwa Ibom State when their boat came under attack by suspected sea robbers. The Navy said the rescued passengers were safely escorted to the FOB Ibaka facility, noting that no injuries were recorded during the operation.
The swift response of the naval personnel forced the suspected pirates to flee the area before they could inflict further harm on the victims or cart away the boat and its cargo. The rescued passengers were confirmed to be safe, while normal movement along the waterway was restored shortly after the operation. The successful operation underscores the Eastern Naval Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and securing Nigeria’s maritime domain through sustained surveillance and rapid response operations. The command remained committed to combating maritime crime and ensuring a safe and secure environment for legitimate maritime users operating within the nation’s territorial waters.
The rescue comes amid sustained efforts by the Nigerian Navy to improve security across the Gulf of Guinea and Nigeria’s coastal waterways through increased patrols, intelligence-led operations and collaboration with other security agencies. Although reported cases of piracy in the region have declined in recent years following enhanced maritime security initiatives, authorities continue to warn that sea robbery and other criminal activities remain threats in some coastal corridors. Security experts have repeatedly emphasised that rapid response capabilities and regular naval patrols are essential to protecting commercial activities and passenger movement along Nigeria’s inland and coastal waterways, particularly in border areas connecting neighbouring countries.
The Navy has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain and ensuring the safety of waterway users, urging boat operators and residents to promptly report any suspicious activities to security agencies. The successful operation forms part of the Nigerian Navy’s ongoing efforts to combat piracy, sea robbery, and other maritime crimes in the country’s coastal and inland waterways. As the Navy continues to strengthen its presence along Nigeria’s waterways, the rescue of the three passengers serves as a powerful reminder that the long arm of the law extends far beyond the nation’s land borders, and that those who seek to plunder the country’s maritime resources will eventually be brought to justice.
