The Nigerian Navy has intensified its operations against militants and kidnappers in Cross River State, seizing several boats and outboard engines in renewed clearance operations across the Calabar waterways.
The development was contained in a statement issued by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, in Abuja on Monday.
According to the statement, the latest operation took place at Dayspring Island, where naval troops had earlier destroyed a suspected militant hideout and established a forward operating base to strengthen surveillance and security.
Folorunsho said sustained pressure on identified criminal enclaves led to the discovery of 10 outboard boat engines hidden in surrounding bushes and within a structure allegedly linked to a suspected militant.
“All items were seized and secured by the troops,” he stated.
He added that in a separate intelligence-driven operation, naval personnel advanced into a creek near Akpamfi, forcing suspected militants to flee their positions.
During the encounter, the fleeing suspects reportedly abandoned two fibre boats and a 200-horsepower outboard engine, which were later recovered by the troops.
According to the Navy, the operations are part of a broader effort to dismantle the logistics network of criminal groups operating along the waterways, where boats and engines are essential tools for movement and illicit activities.
Folorunsho noted that the sustained offensive has significantly weakened the operational capability of the militants, limiting their movement and denying them safe havens within the coastal and riverine areas.
He reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to maintaining pressure on criminal elements until the waterways are fully secured for legitimate economic and maritime activities.
The Navy also said the ongoing operations are intelligence-led and will continue across identified hotspots in order to restore stability and safety in the region.
