Nigerian Army rescues 18 after boat hijack at Cameroon border

The Nigerian Army rescued 18 passengers—including two infants—after their boat was hijacked by suspected sea pirates on January 11, 2026.

Acting on a distress call, troops from the 13 Brigade based in Ikang pursued the pirates who had seized the passenger vessel along the Kombo Fishing Port in Cameroonian waters.

An exchange of fire caused one of the pirates’ speedboats to capsize, forcing the attackers to abandon the passengers and flee into nearby creeks. All victims were recovered unharmed.

Brigadier General P.O. Alimikhena, Commander of the 13 Brigade, praised the troops’ courage and professionalism.

He emphasized the military’s commitment to securing waterways and urged continued public cooperation in reporting criminal activities to enhance security in Cross River State.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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