By Desire Emmanuel
The Nigerian Army has rescued 18 passengers from inside a boat that was hijacked while they were travelling from Nigeria to Cameroon.
Troops of 13 Brigade rescued the passengers, including two infants, on Sunday, January 11, following a distress call regarding a hijacking incident on the high sea.
The call indicated that suspected sea pirates, operating in two speedboats and a wooden boat, hijacked the boat along the Kombo Fishing Port within the Cameroon waterways.
Responding swiftly, the troops deployed at Ikang in Akwa Ibom State reportedly pursued the criminals, resulting in an exchange of fire that caused one of the pirates’ speedboats to capsize.
The pirates eventually abandoned their victims and fled into the surrounding creeks. The soldiers thereafter moved in and rescued the passengers unhurt.
The passengers were moved to the Brigade Headquarters where they were assessed and were subsequently reunited with their family members.
