How joint security operation ended 11-day Calabar–Oron hostage ordeal

By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA – At slightest seventeen passengers who were abducted eleven days agone on the Calabar–Oron waterways person been rescued pursuing a coordinated cognition involving the Cross River State Government, information agencies, and section vigilante groups.

The rescue, confirmed successful a connection signed by Mr. Bassey Asuquo, spokesperson for the Cross River State Government, said the victims were freed aft sustained quality gathering and associated surveillance operations that lasted respective days.

They are presently receiving aesculapian attraction and intelligence enactment astatine a government-owned installation successful Calabar.

Preliminary reports revealed that the victims were among astir 30 passengers aboard a Sea Express Limited vessel travelling from Calabar, Cross River State, to Oron, Akwa Ibom State, erstwhile gunmen attacked mid-sea penultimate Thursday.

The assailants reportedly diverted the vas to a creek assemblage earlier abducting respective passengers.

In a statement, the Commissioner for Information commended the State Security Adviser’s Office, the Nigerian Navy, and the Marine Police Unit for their resilience and tactical precision during the operation.

“This coordinated involution demonstrates the unwavering committedness of the authorities authorities nether His Excellency, Governor Bassey Otu, to the information and information of each residents and travellers wrong our territorial boundaries,” the connection read.

The Commissioner explained that the cognition was carried retired by a combined squad of naval officers, section trackers, and anti-piracy units. He added that the rescue was achieved without outgo of ransom, underscoring the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing successful the state.

Receiving the rescued passengers successful Calabar, Governor Bassey Otu reaffirmed his administration’s resoluteness to unafraid the waterways and support each lawful residents and visitors.

“Our waterways are captious to commercialized and tourism. We volition not let criminals to disrupt bid oregon endanger the lives of immoderate law-abiding citizens. This rescue sends a beardown connection that Cross River volition not beryllium a harmless haven for transgression elements,” helium said.

The politician besides directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Ministry of Health to supply afloat rehabilitation and reintegration enactment for the rescued passengers.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy Base, NNS Victory, Calabar, has intensified regular patrols and established further surveillance checkpoints on the waterways linking Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.

Authorities warned that immoderate effort to undermine maritime information wrong the state’s territory would beryllium met with decisive action.

Public absorption to the rescue has been mostly positive. Residents and travellers person commended the government’s punctual response, portion maritime transport operators expressed renewed assurance successful the information of the Calabar–Oron way and urged authorities to prolong the information momentum.

The incidental highlights continuing efforts by information agencies to combat piracy and related crimes on Nigeria’s coastal and inland waterways, a captious corridor for commercialized and inter-state question successful the Gulf of Guinea region.

The station How associated information cognition ended 11-day Calabar–Oron hostage ordeal appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.