Troops of the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, operating from the Forward Operating Base in Ikang, have successfully rescued eight civilians abducted along the Ikang–Cameroon waterways.

According to a statement released on Tuesday by the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 13 Brigade, Major Yemi Sokoya, and shared on the Nigerian Army’s official X account, the rescue followed credible intelligence provided by members of the local community. The intelligence revealed that militants had intercepted a commercial boat and kidnapped six adults and two children.

Acting swiftly on the information, the troops launched a coordinated operation, sealed off possible escape routes and secured the affected waterways. The prompt response forced the kidnappers to abandon their victims at the Ini-Abasi Fishing Port before fleeing into nearby creeks and the open sea.

The statement confirmed that all eight victims were rescued unharmed, properly documented and subsequently released, with no casualties recorded during the operation.

Commending the troops, the Commander of 13 Brigade, Brigadier General P. O. Alimikhena, praised their professionalism and rapid response. He also expressed appreciation to members of the local community for providing timely and reliable intelligence, which he said was critical to the success of the mission.

The brigade commander reassured residents of the area of the Army’s commitment to sustaining aggressive patrols and security operations to curb criminal activities along the waterways. He further urged the public to continue supporting security agencies by sharing credible and timely information to help maintain peace and safety in the region.