Nigerian Navy rescues 16 passengers after sea robbery attempt

By Zainab Uzomah|Abuja

The Nigerian Navy says it has rescued 16 passengers after foiling a suspected sea robbery attempt along the Ibaka–Calabar Channel in southern Nigeria.

The operation took place on Sunday after naval authorities received intelligence about suspicious criminal activity near Buoy 12 along the busy maritime corridor linking Ibaka in Akwa Ibom State to Calabar.

According to a naval statement, gunboats from the Forward Operating Base in Ibaka were deployed to the area to intercept the suspected attackers.

Naval personnel found that the suspects had already intercepted a fibre passenger boat carrying civilians travelling from Ibaka in Nigeria to Bakassi in Cameroon. The attackers were said to be holding the passengers hostage and attempting to.