Troops Raid Cross River Creeks, Recover Boats as Militants Flee

The Nigerian Navy has intensified its operations against militants and kidnappers in Cross River State, seizing boats and outboard engines during follow-up raids in the Calabar waterways, marking a significant step in the ongoing efforts to secure riverine communities. The operation, conducted at Dayspring Island, resulted in the recovery of 10 outboard boat engines hidden in bushes and inside a structure linked to a suspected militant. Naval troops, who had previously destroyed a militant hideout and established a forward security outpost in the area, maintained constant pressure on criminal enclaves to disrupt their activities. According to Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, all seized items were secured by troops and are part of broader efforts to weaken the operational capacity of criminal groups in the region.

In another coordinated move, naval forces acted on fresh intelligence and advanced into a creek near Akpamfi, forcing suspected militants to flee their hideout. The suspects abandoned two fibre boats and a 200-horsepower outboard engine, which were recovered by the troops. These items are critical to the movement and operations of militants and kidnappers who use the waterways to carry out attacks, abductions, and other illegal activities. The navy emphasized that the seizure of such equipment directly targets the logistics network that enables criminal groups to operate with relative impunity in the riverine areas.

Capt. Folorunsho stated that the sustained offensive has significantly degraded the operational capability of the militants. Their movement has been restricted, supply lines disrupted, and safe havens in the creeks denied. The navy’s strategy focuses on dismantling the infrastructure that supports criminal activities, ensuring that legitimate users of the waterways — including fishermen, traders, and local residents — can carry out their daily activities without fear. The operations are part of a larger mission to restore peace and security in Cross River State, particularly in vulnerable riverine communities.

The Nigerian Navy remains committed to maintaining pressure on identified criminal hideouts and will continue its patrols and raids until all criminal elements are flushed out of the waterways. The service has reiterated its determination to secure the Calabar waterways and protect the lives and livelihoods of people living along the riverine routes. These actions underscore the navy’s role in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime zones and ensuring national security. As operations continue, residents can expect increased naval presence and proactive measures to prevent future criminal activities in the region.