Nigerian military forces successfully rescued 18 passengers aboard a commercial boat hijacked by suspected pirates this week along the Calabar–Cameroon maritime corridor, highlighting ongoing security challenges in West Africa's coastal waterways. The incident occurred near Kombo, a Cameroonian fishing port, when armed assailants intercepted the vessel using speedboats and a wooden craft.
Brigade spokesperson Semi Sokoya confirmed troops from the Nigerian Army's 13 Brigade responded swiftly to a distress call, prompting the attackers to flee. "The pirates abandoned the victims and fled into the surrounding creeks. All passengers were rescued unharmed," Sokoya stated. Troops later engaged the fleeing pirates in a gunfire exchange, capsizing one speedboat during pursuit.
Brigadier-General Patrick Alimikhena, commander of the 13 Brigade, praised the operation as a demonstration of "courage and professionalism" while urging residents to bolster security efforts through timely intelligence sharing. Maritime kidnappings remain prevalent in southern Nigeria, with 20 passengers abducted near Akwa Ibom State in April 2025 and 17 seized in a separate September 2025 incident.
Analysts note the rescue underscores both progress and persistent risks in regional maritime security, particularly along vital trade routes connecting Nigeria and Cameroon.
