The Nigerian Navy has destroyed a suspected militants’ hideout at the Ine Ikoridung coastal settlement in Cross River State as part of ongoing operations against criminal elements in the state’s maritime environment.
The Base Information Officer of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) VICTORY, Lt.-Cdr. Sulaiman Bala, said the militants had been using the settlement to terrorise coastal communities.
In a statement on Monday, Bala said no arrests were made during the intelligence-led operation because the suspects fled on sighting the Navy’s patrol gunboats.
He said troops recovered five empty cartridges, a military camouflage vest, a police camouflage vest, a military pullover, a military jungle hat, and a notebook containing records of suspected militant fighters previously arrested and the correctional facilities where they are serving prison terms.
According to him, the troops subsequently destroyed the identified huts to prevent the militants from using them as hideouts.
Bala said the criminals relocated to the remote coastal settlement following sustained military pressure, which had restricted their operations and forced them to abandon their previous camps.
He reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to maintaining sustained operations until security is fully restored across the maritime environment.
