Nigerian naval forces confiscate extremist vessels, motors during Cross River operation

The Nigerian Navy has ramped up its efforts to combat militants and kidnappers in Cross River, confiscating boats and outboard engines during a series of follow-up operations in the Calabar waterways.

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According to Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, this development was made public in a statement released to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Monday.

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The operation was carried out at Dayspring Island, where naval troops had previously dismantled a militant hideout and set up a forward security outpost, with Folorunsho stating that troops maintained pressure on identified enclaves.

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This pressure led to the discovery of 10 outboard boat engines hidden in nearby bushes and within a structure linked to a suspected militant, all of which were seized and secured by the troops.

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In a separate operation based on new intelligence, troops launched an assault on a creek near Akpamfi, forcing militants to flee and abandon two fibre boats and a 200-horsepower outboard engine, which were subsequently recovered.

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According to Folorunsho, the operations aimed to disrupt the logistics network of militant groups, as boats and engines are crucial to their activities along the waterways.

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The sustained offensive has significantly weakened the operational capability of the militants, limiting their movement and denying them safe havens, Folorunsho noted.

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The navy spokesman reaffirmed the service's commitment to continuing the operations until all criminal elements are eliminated and the waterways are secured for legitimate activities.