By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – Seventeen passengers kidnapped aboard a Sea Express boat travelling from Calabar (Cross River) to Oron (Akwa Ibom) on 25th September 2025, have been successfully rescued by the Nigerian Navy, according to an official statement released on Wednesday.
The daring operation was carried out by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory, with critical support from Forward Operating Base (FOB) IBAKA and aerial surveillance provided by the Nigerian Navy Air Arm.
The coordinated effort followed the abduction of the passengers by armed criminals suspeceted to be sea pirates on the Calabar waterways.
According to the Navy, the successful rescue was the result of a series of well-planned operations, including the strategic blockade of creeks leading to the kidnappers’ hideout and intensive air reconnaissance missions.
The Navy’s campaign was further reinforced by actionable intelligence from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), which enabled the forces to disrupt the criminals’ logistics and communication networks.
Faced with mounting pressure and isolation, the kidnappers reportedly entered negotiations with the Office of the National Security Adviser, ultimately leading to the safe handover of all 17 victims to Navy personnel on 6th October.
After their rescue, the victims were transported to the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital in Calabar for medical evaluation before being handed over to the management of Sea Express Transit Limited to facilitate their reunion with families.
Lieutenant Commander SS Bala, on behalf of the Commander of NNS Victory, emphasised the Navy’s ongoing commitment to maritime security, particularly in the volatile Calabar waterways.
“The Nigerian Navy is still on the trail of all miscreants perpetrating illicit activities within the region,” the statement read.
Adding, “We assure the general public that, in line with our constitutional mandate, we will not relent in efforts to rid our waters of these criminal elements so law-abiding citizens can go about their daily lives without fear.”
This rescue marks a significant success in the Navy’s ongoing campaign to counter piracy, kidnapping, and other forms of maritime crime in Nigeria’s coastal regions.
