At least 17 passengers traveling by boat from Oron in Akwa Ibom State to Calabar, Cross River State, have been abducted by suspected pirates in yet another attack on Nigeria’s increasingly dangerous coastal routes.
The incident occurred on Thursday, shortly after the boat departed Oron, according to the Cross River State Police Command, which confirmed the development on Saturday.
Speaking in Calabar, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Igri Ewa, said security personnel have launched an operation to rescue the abducted passengers.
“The command is already working to ensure the prompt rescue of the passengers,” Ewa assured.
Among the passengers, a serving police officer from Akwa Ibom and a prominent Cross River politician reportedly escaped abduction.
One eyewitness, who asked to remain anonymous, recounted the moment of the attack.
“They stopped our boat, moved some of us into their own, and once it was full, they sped off. The rest of us continued to the Inland Waterways Jetty, where the police took our statements,” the passenger said.
This latest abduction marks the second major pirate attack on the Oron–Calabar waterway in 2025.
In April, 20 passengers on the same route were similarly kidnapped.
The water route has become a dangerous alternative for travellers avoiding the Calabar–Itu federal highway, which has long been in poor condition.
Local businesses, especially in fishing communities, have suffered repeated losses.
A boat owner from Ibaka in Akwa Ibom told reporters he had lost two outboard engines, each worth over ₦3 million, to pirate attacks.
“Our youths have tried to fight back, but the more we resist, the worse it gets. This is our reality. We need the security agencies to intensify their operations on the water,” he said.
The insecurity has also led to rising seafood prices in local markets, including crayfish, a key product in Akwa Ibom.
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has persistently called on the federal government to establish a military battalion in the Oron axis, covering local government areas such as Oron, Mbo, Okobo, Udung Uko, and Urue Offong/Oruko.
“Most of these kidnappers escape through the waterways. A military presence in Oron would make a huge difference,” the governor said in a previous meeting with then Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, in 2024.
The House of Representatives had earlier passed a resolution backing the call for a military formation in the region, following a motion by Martins Esin, the lawmaker representing Oron Federal Constituency.
Despite these measures, residents say pirate attacks have continued unabated, with victims over the past two years including a High Court judge, medical professionals, traditional rulers and relatives of political figures.
