Naval rescue: Kidnap victim freed in Rivers waterways crackdown

By Zainab Uzomah| Abuja

The Nigerian Navy says it has rescued a kidnapped man in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, following days of search operations in the area’s waterways.

In a statement signed by Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the navy said the victim, Benedict Eze, was abducted on 23 March in Aganya Community and later found at Coconut Jetty after his captors abandoned him under pressure from ongoing security operations.

The navy said personnel from the Forward Operating Base in Bonny had carried out sustained patrols using intelligence and coordinated efforts across creeks and surrounding areas to block escape routes.

According to the statement, the victim was taken to a naval medical facility for checks before being reunited with his family.

The navy said the operation reflects ongoing efforts, in collaboration with other securityagencies, to improve safety along the Bonny–Port Harcourt waterways and prevent criminal activity in the region.

It added that patrols and intelligence-led operations would continue as part of a broader strategy to protect lives and bring perpetrators to justice.