Pirates Abduct 17 Passengers Attack on Calabar-Oron Waterways

The menace of sea piracy has resurfaced along Nigeria’s Southern waterways as suspected Pirates abducted 17 passengers traveling from Calabar, Cross River State, to Oron in neighboring Akwa Ibom.

The incident happened on Thursday when gunmen intercepted a commercial boat operated by Sea Express Limited. The vessel, which had about 30 passengers on board, was hijacked mid-journey, leaving commuters stranded.

Eyewitnesses said the pirates whisked away 17 passengers to an unknown destination while others were abandoned on the water before being rescued by local fishermen.

Confirming the development in Calabar on Friday, the Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Cross River State Police Command, Igri Ewa, assured that Security Agencies were on the trail of the attackers.

“We are aware of the abduction and we are making efforts to rescue the victims,” Ewa said, noting that details of the rescue operation could not yet be disclosed.

The Calabar-Oron route is a vital economic and social link for traders, workers, and students, but frequent pirate attacks have turned the waterway into a danger zone.

A boat operator, who pleaded anonymity for fear of reprisal, lamented the risks faced daily by commuters.

“Every time we set out on this water, we are not sure if we will reach safely. These pirates strike without warning, and it is only God that saves people,” he said.

Residents in Calabar and Oron expressed frustration over the lack of consistent security patrols. A trader, Iniobong Edet, said the latest incident would discourage many from traveling by water.

“We rely on this route for our businesses. If the Government does not act fast, people will abandon the waterways, and that will affect trade between both states,” she told Global Mirror News.

The piracy crisis on the Calabar-Oron waterways is not new. Similar attacks in 2021 and 2023 forced operators to suspend services, leaving commuters stranded for weeks.

Families of kidnapped victims were often forced to negotiate directly with abductors, paying heavy ransoms to secure their release.

As of Press time, Police and Naval Authorities had yet to confirm whether contact had been made with the kidnappers or if any demands had been issued.

Families of the 17 abducted passengers remain in distress as rescue efforts continue.