The Nigerian Navy has rescued three passengers after a suspected pirate attack on a passenger boat along the waterways in Akwa Ibom State.
The rescue operation was carried out by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ibaka, under the Eastern Naval Command, during a routine night patrol on Tuesday, July 29, 2026.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Commanding Officer of FOB Ibaka, Navy Captain Adebowale Omotosho, the naval team sprang into action after receiving a distress call at about 9:30 p.m. from a passing boat reporting an ongoing sea robbery incident around the Mbendoro waterways.
Omotosho said the patrol team immediately navigated to the scene, where they successfully rescued a passenger boat conveying tomatoes and its three occupants from the suspected attackers.
He explained that 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 Navy 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.
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