The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Jubilee has rescued two kidnap victims and recovered stolen outboard engines during a security operation along the Ibeno waterways in Akwa Ibom State.
The Commander of NNS Jubilee, Commodore Mohammed Manga, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo on Wednesday.
Manga said the operation followed an intelligence report received by the NNS Jubilee Maritime Quick Response Team on the activities of suspected sea robbers and kidnappers operating in the area.
According to him, the suspected criminals were targeting fishermen, dispossessing them of their fishing boats and outboard engines, while also engaging in kidnapping.
He said personnel of the Maritime Quick Response Team, working in collaboration with a community surveillance outfit, were immediately deployed to the area to counter the criminal activities.
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“During the patrol, the Navy gunboat sighted and engaged two suspected criminal boats.
“The encounter forced the suspected criminals to divert into nearby creeks in an attempt to evade the security forces,” Manga said.
The commander explained that the suspects eventually abandoned one of their boats and fled into the creeks.
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He said naval personnel subsequently recovered the abandoned boat, which contained stolen outboard engines, and rescued two kidnap victims.
Manga urged owners of the recovered outboard engines to approach the appropriate authorities with valid proof of ownership to reclaim their property.
He added that efforts were ongoing to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.
The commander described the operation as part of the Nigerian Navy’s sustained efforts to protect the country’s maritime domain and ensure the safety of residents and legitimate economic activities along the waterways.
Manga reaffirmed NNS Jubilee’s commitment to maintaining aggressive patrols and strengthening coordinated security operations to combat sea robbery, kidnapping and other forms of maritime crime in Akwa Ibom waterways.
