The Nigerian Navy has imposed a 13-hour curfew on all maritime activities along the Calabar waterways in a decisive move to curb kidnapping and other criminal operations along the Calabar–Oron channel.
The curfew runs daily from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to a statement issued on Friday in Calabar by Lieutenant-Commander Suleiman Bala, spokesperson for the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) VICTORY.
In response to a recent surge in abductions along the channel, the Navy has also established a security outpost at Idung I (Peacock Crossing) on the island in Cross River State. Lieutenant-Commander Bala explained that the outpost is strategically positioned to enable naval forces to monitor activities in the creeks effectively.
He further disclosed that NNS VICTORY and Forward Operating Base (FOB) IBAKA had conducted raids on fishing communities at Dayspring Island.
“The raids resulted in the clearance of suspected militant elements, who fled upon sighting our personnel,” he said. “Troops of the Nigerian Navy, alongside soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s 13 Brigade, subsequently maintained dominance over the creeks and adjoining waterways.”
That sustained presence led to the discovery of a militant hideout belonging to a suspected criminal known as “Juju” in Idung. Upon approach, the suspect fled in haste, abandoning two engine-fitted boats, which were confiscated. The hideout was subsequently demolished.
In a related development, troops tracked and apprehended a suspect identified through intelligence as an informant for the militant group.
“The suspect is currently in custody and undergoing interrogation,” Lieutenant-Commander Bala said. “At the conclusion of this process, he will be handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.”
Before the deployment of troops, militant groups operated freely within the area, engaging in kidnappings and extortion of riverine communities. The spokesman noted that the presence of troops has significantly constrained their activities, restricting them largely to the creeks and limiting access to logistics support.
The Nigerian Navy has resolved to “sustain this aggressive posture until all undesirable elements hiding within the creeks and communities are eliminated.”