The Nigerian Navy says it has rescued a kidnapped man in Rivers State after days of coordinated security operations in the Bonny area.
In a statement released to the press, the Navy said the victim, Benedict Eze, was abducted on 23rd of March 2026 in Aganya Community but later freed during sustained search efforts.
According to the Navy, Eze was found at Coconut Jetty after his captors abandoned him near Opuoma waterside due to “intensified operational pressure” from security forces.
The Navy said the rescue followed “sustained intelligence-led patrols, technological enablers, as well as coordinated action on land and around the creeks to block any possible escape routes.”
It added that the efforts forced the kidnappers to flee, leading to the victim’s release and safe recovery.
Eze was taken to a naval medical facility for checks and questioning before he was “safely reunited with his family,” the statement said.
The Navy described the operation as proof of the “effectiveness of coordinated maritime and land-based security operations” carried out with other agencies.
It said the mission is part of ongoing efforts to deny “criminal elements freedom of movement within the Bonny–Port Harcourt waterways and adjoining creeks.”
The statement also said the action follows orders from the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, to increase pressure on criminals in Nigeria’s waters.
The Navy said it remains “resolute in sustaining proactive patrols and intelligence-driven operations” to protect lives and property and bring offenders to justice.
