The Nigerian Navy has dismantled an emerging militant camp in the Soku area of Rivers State, delivering a significant blow to criminal networks operating within the maritime domain.
Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, confirmed the operation in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja. He disclosed that personnel from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH were swiftly deployed to a suspected hideout following credible intelligence that a notorious militant network had relocated from the Nembe axis to establish a new operational base in Soku.
“Upon arrival, the patrol team observed clear indicators of recent activity, confirming that attempts were underway to fortify the location,” Captain Folorunsho stated. “A systematic search yielded communication devices, various accessories, and approximately 150 metres of four-inch industrial hose—believed to be intended for illegal bunkering. The camp was subsequently destroyed to neutralise its operational capacity.”
Preliminary intelligence suggests the group is linked to kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, sea robbery and other forms of maritime criminality. The operation underscores the Navy’s proactive, intelligence-led strategy of disrupting criminal infrastructure before it becomes fully operational, thereby denying militants a strategic foothold in the Niger Delta.
The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations, strengthening maritime domain awareness, and collaborating closely with sister security agencies and host communities to eradicate criminal networks and safeguard Nigeria’s maritime environment.