Seventeen passengers travelling by boat from Oron, Akwa Ibom State, to Calabar, Cross River State, have been abducted by sea pirates, further heightening fears over insecurity along Nigeria’s coastal waters.
The attack, which happened on Thursday shortly after departure, was confirmed by the Cross River State Police Command. Deputy spokesperson Igri Ewa said security agencies have launched efforts to rescue the victims. He noted that a serving police officer and a prominent Cross River politician onboard narrowly escaped capture.
One survivor said the pirates intercepted the vessel minutes after it left Oron. “They stopped our boat and forced some passengers into theirs. Once their boat was full, they sped off,” the passenger recounted.
- VIDEO: Woman Claiming to Be Chris Okafor’s Former Wife Makes Explosive Allegations
- I will not be vice-president to anybody ~ Peter Obi
- Israel recognises Somaliland as sovereign state
- 70-year-old Indian woman gives birth to her first child
- Ghanaian Prophet, Eboh Noah, Builds 8 Arks, Reveals God Has Warned Him That The World Will End On Christmas Day ~ Not By Fire, But By Another Global Flood.
- VIDEO: Pregnant wife bursts into tears as husband refuses to go beg neighbour Jollof rice
This is the second major abduction on the route this year. In April, 20 passengers were seized in similar circumstances.
The Oron–Calabar corridor has become a hotspot for kidnappings and piracy, worsened by the poor state of the Calabar–Itu Highway which leaves many travellers with no option but water transport. The insecurity has also crippled fishing activities in Akwa Ibom coastal communities, leading to rising seafood prices.
Governor Umo Eno has repeatedly urged the federal government to establish a military battalion in the Oron axis to curb the menace.
The House of Representatives has also backed the call, but residents say attacks persist, with victims in recent years ranging from judges and doctors to community leaders and relatives of politicians.
