Nigerian army saves 18 after pirates hijack boat (PHOTO)

The rescue took place after a gunfight forced the raiders to flee into nearby creeks

The Nigerian Army rescued all 18 passengers, including two infants, after a passenger boat was hijacked by suspected sea pirates on Sunday. 

According to the statement published by the Nigerian Army on X, the boat was traveling from Nigeria to Cameroon along the Kombo Fishing Port axis when raiders operating two speedboats and a wooden boat intercepted it.  

Military sources say the 13th Brigade of the Nigerian Army received a distress call after the hijacking and deployed troops to pursue the attackers. An exchange of gunfire followed during which one of the pirates’ speedboats capsized.  

After the capsizing, the attackers abandoned the captives and fled into nearby creeks, according to the army. 

“All passengers were rescued unharmed,” the statement said. 

Brigadier General P.O. Alimikhena praised the troops for acting quickly and professionally. “This successful rescue operation demonstrates the courage, professionalism, and unwavering commitment of our men and women to protect lives and ensure the safety of our waterways,” he said as quoted by the army’s press service on X.  

Piracy and armed robbery at sea have long been security concerns in the Gulf of Guinea, a key maritime trade route that stretches across West and Central Africa, which is bordered by countries such as Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Togo, and Equatorial Guinea.

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According to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), reported maritime piracy and armed robbery incidents increased in the Gulf of Guinea in 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. IMB’s January–September 2025 report recorded 15 incidents in the region, up from 12 in the first nine months of 2024, including both armed robbery in territorial waters and piracy at sea. 

In April, pirates raided a tanker off the coast of Nigeria, although the crew was not harmed. Four armed individuals remained on board for nearly four hours, during which they stole the personal belongings of the crew and equipment from the vessel before fleeing.