The Cross River State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of 15 passengers who were travelling by boat from Calabar to Oron on Friday.
The incident was confirmed in a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Eitokpah.
He disclosed that the command is working in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State Police Command and the Nigerian Navy to carry out search-and-rescue operations.
“The command is collaborating closely with the Akwa Ibom State Police Command as well as the Nigerian Navy in coordinated search-and-rescue operations.
“As we speak, tactical operations to secure the safe recovery of the victims and the arrest of the perpetrators are ongoing,” Eitokpah stated.
The confirmation aligns with earlier reports indicating that a passenger boat was attacked by suspected sea pirates along the Calabar waterways. According to those reports, the attackers ambushed the vessel and forced passengers away at gunpoint.
While the police confirmed 15 victims, earlier accounts suggested that the number of abducted passengers could be higher, with some reports indicating that as many as 20 people may have been involved.
Among them are believed to be students travelling to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of waterways in the region, particularly for individuals travelling for critical engagements such as national examinations.
Security agencies have continued search and rescue efforts, while stakeholders are calling for improved security presence and monitoring along the Calabar–Oron route to prevent future occurrences.
