Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 13 Brigade have rescued 18 passengers, including two infants, after suspected sea pirates hijacked a commercial boat plying the busy Nigeria–Cameroon waterways.

The dramatic operation unfolded along the Kombo Fishing Port axis, a stretch of water within Cameroonian territory that has long served as a vital corridor for traders, commuters and fishing communities moving between both countries. It has also, in recent years, become a hunting ground for criminal gangs who exploit the maze of creeks and mangroves to stage attacks and evade security forces.

According to a statement issued by the 13 Brigade and signed by its Assistant Director of Public Relations, Major Yemi Sokoya, the incident began when armed men, believed to be sea pirates, intercepted a passenger boat travelling from Cameroon toward Nigeria. The attackers were said to be operating two speedboats and a wooden boat, giving them both speed and capacity to overwhelm their target.

The hijackers reportedly forced the passenger vessel to a halt and seized control, abducting everyone on board. Among the 18 passengers were families and traders making the routine cross-border journey, as well as two infants who were caught in the chaos of the attack. The pirates then attempted to move their captives deeper into the waterways, using the labyrinth of creeks to conceal their movements.

A distress call was quickly relayed to Nigerian Army troops deployed at Ikang, a strategic border community in Cross River State that serves as a gateway between Nigeria and Cameroon. Ikang has become a forward operating base for security forces tasked with policing the waterways and curbing piracy, smuggling and other cross-border crimes.

On receiving the alert, 13 Brigade troops launched a rapid response operation. Guided by the information from the distress call, they moved to intercept the pirates, using their knowledge of the terrain and likely escape routes to close in on the fleeing boats. The soldiers soon made contact with the suspects, triggering an exchange of gunfire on the water.

During the confrontation, one of the pirates’ speedboats reportedly capsized. Faced with mounting pressure from the advancing troops and the risk of capture or death, the attackers abandoned their captives and fled into the surrounding creeks, taking advantage of the dense mangrove cover to escape on foot and by boat.

With the pirates in flight, the soldiers focused on securing the hostages. All 18 passengers, including the two infants, were rescued unharmed. The Army did not immediately disclose whether any of the pirates were arrested or if weapons and equipment were recovered, but the successful extraction of the passengers was hailed as a significant victory in the ongoing effort to secure the region’s waterways.

Brigadier General P. O. Alimikhena, Commander of 13 Brigade, commended his troops for what he described as a prompt, professional and courageous response under dangerous conditions. He said the operation reflected the Brigade’s readiness to respond swiftly to threats and its determination to protect civilians who rely on the waterways for their livelihoods.

“This successful rescue operation demonstrates the courage, professionalism and unwavering commitment of our men and women to protect lives and ensure the safety of our waterways,” Alimikhena said in the statement. He added that the Brigade would continue to “dominate our operational environment and safeguard our citizens against all criminal elements.”

The commander also used the opportunity to appeal to residents of Cross River State and neighbouring communities to work closely with security agencies. He stressed that timely information from locals is often the difference between a foiled attack and a successful one, particularly in remote or difficult terrain where criminals attempt to hide.

“We urge members of the public to provide useful information to assist security forces in tackling criminal activities across Cross River State,” he said, underscoring that community cooperation is vital to sustaining security gains and deterring future attacks.

The rescue highlights the persistent threat of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea and its adjoining inland waterways. While international attention has often focused on attacks on larger commercial vessels in deeper waters, smaller passenger boats and local traders are frequently targeted closer to shore, where state presence can be thin and response times longer.

In the border areas between Nigeria and Cameroon, boats are a lifeline for thousands of people. They carry food, fuel, building materials and market goods, and they serve as the primary means of transport for many communities cut off from major road networks. Each successful attack not only endangers lives but also undermines trade, raises transport costs and deepens insecurity in already vulnerable areas.

Security analysts note that operations like the one conducted by 13 Brigade are crucial in sending a clear message to criminal groups that the waterways are not beyond the reach of law enforcement. Rapid response capabilities, better intelligence sharing between communities and security agencies, and cooperation between neighbouring countries are seen as key to reducing the frequency and impact of such attacks.