The Nigerian Navy has dealt a major setback to an extortion syndicate accused of terrorising fishermen and other users of the Bonny Creek waterways in Rivers State, forcing suspected members to abandon their operational base during a coordinated security operation.
The breakthrough was disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja by the Director of Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, in an update on recent military operations.
Folorunsho said the successful raid followed credible intelligence that prompted personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny, working alongside troops of the Nigerian Army, to storm a criminal hideout located in the Asaramatoru community.
According to him, the operation caught the suspects off guard, compelling them to flee the area before security operatives arrived. A thorough search of the abandoned camp led to the recovery of several items believed to be linked to the group’s activities.
“Items recovered include a 7.62mm empty magazine, a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) butt, several ATM cards and other items of intelligence value,” he said.
Folorunsho explained that information gathered from residents confirmed that the gang had established the community as a base for launching attacks on fishermen and commuters navigating the waterways.
“The members of the community said the group extorts residents and demands proceeds from market sales.
“The operation has therefore restored confidence among the affected community and disrupted the activities of the criminal syndicate within the Bonny Creek corridor,” he said.
He added that intelligence generated from the raid would strengthen ongoing efforts to identify other members of the network, track their movements and dismantle the broader criminal structure operating within the region.
Reaffirming the Navy’s resolve to safeguard the nation’s maritime domain, Folorunsho said intelligence-led operations would continue to target criminal elements threatening the security of coastal communities.
He assured Nigerians that the Navy remains committed to preventing kidnappers, sea robbers, extortionists and other criminal groups from exploiting the country’s waterways for illegal activities.
