Police Confirm Abduction Of 17 Passengers On Calabar-Oron Waterways

The Cross River State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of 17 passengers onboard of a rider vessel connected the Calabar – Oron Waterways by oversea pirates.

The abduction occurred connected Thursday erstwhile gunmen hijacked a commercialized rider vessel operated by Sea Express Limited, portion conveying astir 30 radical from Calabar successful Cross River State to Oron successful Akwa Ibom State.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Cross River Command, DSP Igri Ewa, who confirmed the incidental said the Police were making each efforts to rescue the victims.

“We are alert of the abduction and are making efforts to rescue the victims. No interaction has been made by their abductors yet.

“The constabulary are investigating the incident, and patrol gunboats person been deployed to way down the assailants and rescue the victims,” Ewa said.

The lawman PPRO added that a associated information efforts were successful spot with marine constabulary to rescue the abducted persons.

“As I talk to you now, determination is simply a associated effort of the marine constabulary and different information agencies to rescue the victims.” Igiri Ewa maintained.

LEADERSHIP recalls that suspected pirates had successful April 2025, kidnapped 20 passengers on the Akwa Ibom-Cross River waterways, demanding a ransom of ₦100 million.

These incidents item the request for enhanced information measures to support passengers and forestall aboriginal attacks.

Incidents of passengers abduction is connected the emergence on the waterways successful the portion successful the caller time.

Suspected oversea pirates connected April 5, 2025, reportedly abducted 5 passengers traveling connected a commercialized vessel on the Degema-Akuku-Toru way successful Rivers State.

Again successful April 18, astir 20 passengers were said to person been abducted on the Akwa Ibom-Cross River waterways, with reports of a ransom demand.

Also successful September 2024, 10 passengers were reportedly kidnapped by suspected pirates on the Bonny waterways in Rivers State.