The Nigerian Navy has rescued a kidnap victim in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, bringing an end to an 11-day ordeal that has reignited concerns over security in the oil-rich coastal community.
The victim, identified as Benedict Eze, was abducted on March 23, 2026, in Aganya Community — an incident that sent shockwaves across Bonny, an area that had enjoyed relative calm in recent years.
According to the Nigerian Navy, the victim was rescued following sustained operations by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny.
Naval authorities say intense, intelligence-led patrols across the Bonny–Port Harcourt waterways and surrounding creeks forced the kidnappers to abandon the victim at Coconut Jetty.
The Navy described the operation as part of ongoing efforts to deny criminal elements freedom within the maritime corridor, in line with directives from the Chief of Naval Staff, Idi Abbas.
Following his recovery, the victim was taken to the FOB medical facility for evaluation and later reunited with his family.
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While authorities maintain that the victim was rescued due to sustained security pressure, emerging accounts from local sources suggest a more complicated story.
Our correspondent gathered that the victim may have been released only after a ransom was paid.
Sources familiar with the incident claim that the kidnappers initially demanded ₦28 million but later settled for about ₦20 million — reportedly paid in foreign currency equivalent to roughly $15,000.
Family members, it was gathered, were forced to raise the funds after receiving disturbing video evidence showing the victim in distress while in captivity.
According to these accounts, the victim was eventually abandoned at Okpoma waterfront before being assisted by a boat operator who transported him to safety near Coconut Estate, where naval personnel took custody.
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At the official handover, the Commanding Officer of FOB Bonny, Captain Stanley Umeh, expressed relief over the victim’s release, noting that security strategies in the area are being reviewed to prevent future occurrences.
He also sympathised with the victim’s family, assuring residents of strengthened operations across waterways and surrounding communities.
