Calabar: The Nigerian Navy has imposed a 13-hour curfew, banning all maritime activities from 5am to 6pm on the Calabar waterways and Calabar-Oron channel to counter increasing kidnappings and crime.
This is contained in a statement by Lt.-Cdr. Suleiman Bala, spokesperson for the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) VICTORY, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Calabar.
He stated that, following recent incidents of kidnapping along the Calabar-Oron channel, the Navy subsequently established a security outpost at Idung I (peacock crossing) on the island in Cross River.
Bala added that the outpost was created to enable naval personnel to monitor activities in the creeks.
He reported that the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) VICTORY and the Forward Operating Base (FOB) IBAKA conducted operations in the fishing communities at Dayspring Island.
The operations resulted in the departure of individuals suspected of involvement in militant activities upon the arrival of Navy personnel. Troops from the Nigerian Navy, together with those from the Nigerian Army 13 Brigade, maintained a presence in the creeks and neighbouring waterways.
He reported that this presence led to the identification of a location believed to be used by a suspected militant referred to as “juju” in Idung. When approached, the individual left the area in haste, leaving behind two boats with engines, which were confiscated. The structure was subsequently dismantled. Troops tracked and apprehended one suspect identified through intelligence as an informant for the militant group.
“The suspect is currently in custody and undergoing interrogation at the end of which he will be handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation,” he said.
On the deployment of troops, Bala noted that prior to the deployment, militant groups operated freely within the area, engaging in kidnapping and extortion of riverine communities.
According to him, the presence of troops has reduced the activities of such groups, primarily limiting them to the creeks and restricting their access to logistics. The spokesman stated that the Nigerian Navy will maintain this approach until all individuals considered to be involved in criminal activity are apprehended or removed from the creeks and communities.