NIGERIA: Army Troops Foil Cross-Border Kidnapping, Rescue Eight Civilians On Ikang-Cameroon Waterways

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

In a decisive operation, troops from 13 Brigade Nigerian Army at Forward Operating Base Ikang thwarted a militant abduction along the volatile Ikang-Cameroon waterways, rescuing eight civilians, including six adults and two minors, without any casualties on Sunday.

The rescue followed credible community intelligence about militants intercepting a commercial boat and seizing the victims.

Brigade Public Relations Officer Major Yemi Sokoya in a statement on Tuesday confirmed the swift deployment that blocked escape routes and dominated the area, forcing the abductors to abandon the hostages at Ini-Abasi Fishing Port and flee into the creeks.

The victims were safely recovered, documented, and released.

Commander Brigadier General PO Alimikhena praised the troops’ professionalism and thanked locals for their vital tip-off, reaffirming intensified patrols to deny criminals operational space.

He urged continued public cooperation with timely information to bolster security in the cross-border region prone to piracy and militancy.

The successful intervention highlights effective civil-military synergy in tackling threats along Nigeria’s maritime boundaries, ensuring safer waterways for communities reliant on trade and fishing.