Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 13 Brigade have successfully rescued four civilians who were abducted and being transported by armed militants toward Cameroon through the waterways of Bakassi, Cross River State.
The operation took place on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, during a routine water patrol. Soldiers intercepted a boat heading toward Isangele, Achibong, in the Republic of Cameroon.
According to a statement released by Major Yemi Sokoya, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, the armed militants immediately opened fire on the patrol team in a desperate attempt to escape.
The troops responded with what the Army described as “accurate and superior firepower,” forcing the assailants to flee into the surrounding creeks and abandon the abducted civilians.
All four victims were rescued unharmed, and their personal belongings were also recovered. No soldier was injured in the firefight.
Brigadier General P.O. Alimikhena, Commander of the 13 Brigade, commended the officers involved, praising their alertness and bravery.
He noted that the successful rescue reflects the Brigade’s readiness to confront criminal elements operating within Cross River and neighboring communities.
The commander further pledged that troops would sustain aggressive patrols and dismantle criminal networks using coastal and riverine corridors to carry out kidnappings. He urged residents to support ongoing security efforts by sharing timely and credible intelligence.
The incident comes amid a surge in kidnapping cases across the country, with criminal groups exploiting forests, border towns, and waterways as safe routes.
Coastal states such as Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and parts of the Niger Delta have experienced increased waterborne abductions in recent years, enabled by illicit arms flow and porous borders.
Across Nigeria, kidnapping-for-ransom has become a widespread criminal enterprise. Regions including Kaduna, Zamfara, Kogi, and Niger remain hotspots for mass abductions, while even major cities like Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt continue to experience targeted kidnappings.
Security agencies have intensified operations nationwide, ranging from military offensives and intelligence-led arrests to community policing initiatives.
In response to rising cases, the Senate on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, passed for second reading a bill seeking to classify all kidnapping and hostage-taking offences as acts of terrorism.
The proposed law recommends the death penalty for all forms of kidnapping, with no option of a fine or lesser sentence. Senate President Godswill Akpabio stated the urgency of fast-tracking the bill.
Nigerian Army rescues four abducted civilians being taken to Cameroon by boat
