The Nigerian Navy has imposed a 13-hour curfew from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. on all maritime activities along the Calabar waterways as part of efforts to curb kidnapping and other criminal activities along the Calabar–Oron channel.
This is contained in a statement by Lt.-Cdr. Suleiman Bala, spokesperson for the Nigerian Navy Ship NNS Victory, made available to journalists in Calabar. The Director of Naval Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, also confirmed in a separate statement that following naval operations in the area, the 13-hour restriction on maritime movement was imposed to sustain operational gains and curb criminal activities.
In a series of aggressive clearance operations, personnel of NNS Victory and Forward Operating Base Ibaka stormed Dayspring Island following a recent surge in kidnappings and related criminal activities. The operation was anchored on the establishment of a forward security outpost at Idung 1, also known as Peacock Crossing, providing a tactical foothold for sustained dominance of the creeks and adjoining waterways.
The sweep forced suspected militants to abandon their camps and flee. Troops later discovered and destroyed a militant hideout linked to a notorious suspect known as “Juju,” who escaped during the operation.
According to The Nation, two boats fitted with outboard engines were recovered, while one suspected informant was arrested and is currently in custody.
Naval personnel, in conjunction with troops of the Nigerian Army’s 13 Brigade, also secured key waterways and denied the criminals freedom of movement, with the rapid offensive forcing suspected militants to abandon their positions upon contact with advancing naval troops.
The restriction comes against a backdrop of mounting insecurity on the corridor. According to Blueprint Newspapers Limited Pirates had earlier violently hijacked a commercial ferry conveying passengers from Calabar to Oron, abducting at least 15 passengers at gunpoint, including young Nigerians said to have been preparing for the 2026 UTME.
The attack triggered panic among families and heightened tension in coastal communities across Cross River and Akwa Ibom states. The Senate subsequently passed a resolution directing relevant security agencies to intensify surveillance, patrols, and intelligence gathering across the waterways and adjoining creeks, noting that the Calabar–Oron route remains a key economic and transport corridor but has become increasingly vulnerable to piracy, kidnapping, smuggling, and armed robbery.
The Navy said it has resolved to sustain its aggressive posture until all undesirable elements hiding within the creeks and communities are eliminated.
