By Desire Emmanuel
Troops of 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, operating from Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ikang, Akwa Ibom State, have rescued eight boat passengers kidnapped by militants on the waterways
The rescue followed a distress call received by the soldiers which indicated that the militants intercepted the boat on Monday, December 29.
The soldiers were said to have received intelligence reports from members of the community that militants intercepted the commercial boat along the Ikang-Cameroon waterways and abducted eight passengers, comprising six adults and two children who were heading to Cameroon.
Acting promptly on this information, the troops immediately deployed in pursuit of the criminals while simultaneously blocking possible escape routes and dominating the waterways.
As a result of this, the militants, on sighting the soldiers, reportedly abandoned the victims at the Ini-Abasi fishing port and fled into the creeks towards the high sea. The abandoned victims were subsequently rescued by the troops on the waterways.
According to the Nigerian Army in a statement on Tuesday, December 30, regarding the incident, the rescued passengers were conveyed to the Brigade’s location, where they were assessed, profiled and later released.
“No casualties were recorded during the operation. Troops continued patrols along the waterways to prevent regrouping or further criminal activities by the fleeing militants,” the Nigerian Army disclosed.
