Navy Imposes 13-Hour Curfew on Calabar Waterways, Destroys Militant Hideout

The Nigerian Navy has imposed a 13-hour daily curfew on all maritime activities along the Calabar waterways as part of a decisive push to stamp out the wave of kidnappings and criminal operations on the Calabar–Oron channel.

The curfew runs from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, according to Lieutenant-Commander Suleiman Bala, spokesperson for the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) VICTORY, who announced the move in a statement on Friday in Calabar.

New Outpost at Peacock Crossing

As part of the crackdown, the Navy has also set up a security outpost at Idung I, known locally as Peacock Crossing, on an island in Cross River State. Bala said the outpost was placed there deliberately — it gives naval forces a clear vantage point to watch movement through the creeks.

Troops from NNS VICTORY and Forward Operating Base (FOB) IBAKA have already carried out raids on fishing settlements at Dayspring Island. “The raids resulted in the clearance of suspected militant elements, who fled upon sighting our personnel,” Bala said.

“Juju” Hideout Destroyed, Informant Arrested

The sustained military presence led troops to a militant hideout belonging to a suspect known as “Juju” in Idung. When naval personnel approached, the suspect ran — leaving behind two engine-fitted boats. Both boats were seized, and the hideout was demolished.

In a related operation, troops tracked and arrested a man identified through intelligence as an informant for the militant group. Bala confirmed the suspect is in custody and undergoing interrogation. “At the conclusion of this process, he will be handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation,” he said.

“We’re Not Backing Down”

Before troops moved in, militant groups had been operating almost freely — kidnapping travellers and extorting money from riverine communities along the channel. Bala noted that things have changed sharply since the deployment. “The presence of troops has significantly constrained their activities, restricting them largely to the creeks and limiting their access to logistics support,” he said.

The Navy says it will “sustain this aggressive posture until all undesirable elements hiding within the creeks and communities are eliminated.”

The heightened security comes on the heels of a recent ferry hijacking that saw 15 passengers abducted along the same Calabar–Oron waterway, an incident the Senate condemned and ordered immediate rescue operations for.

Sources: Gazette Nigeria, Naijaonpoint, Observers Times, News Agency of Nigeria