Police Confirm Abduction Of 17 Boat Passengers By Sea Pirates In Cross River

THE Cross River State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of seventeen passengers by suspected sea pirates along the Calabar–Oron Waterways.

The incident occurred on Thursday when armed men hijacked a commercial passenger boat operated by Sea Express Limited, which was conveying around thirty passengers from Calabar in Cross River State to Oron in Akwa Ibom State.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer of the Cross River State Command, DSP Igri Ewa, confirmed the attack, stating that police operatives have launched a rescue operation to secure the release of the victims.

“We are aware of the abduction and are making every effort to rescue the victims. No contact has yet been made by the abductors.

“The police are investigating the incident, and patrol gunboats have been deployed to track down the assailants and rescue the victims,” Ewa said.

He added that a joint operation involving the Marine Police and other security agencies has been activated to ensure the safe return of those abducted.

 “As I speak to you now, there is a joint effort by the Marine Police and other security agencies to rescue the victims,” the deputy spokesperson maintained.

This latest incident underscores the growing insecurity along Nigeria’s waterways, particularly in the South-South region.

In April 2025, suspected pirates abducted twenty passengers along the Akwa Ibom–Cross River waterways, reportedly demanding a ransom of N100 million.

Similarly, on 5th April 2025, five passengers were seized by gunmen travelling on a commercial boat along the Degema–Akuku-Toru route in Rivers State. Barely two weeks later, on 18th April, about twenty passengers were again abducted on the Akwa Ibom–Cross River route.

In a related case in September 2024, ten passengers were kidnapped by suspected sea pirates along the Bonny waterways in Rivers State.

These repeated attacks have raised concerns over the safety of travellers and the urgent need for enhanced maritime security across the region’s waterways.