Sea Pirates Abduct 20 Passengers in Calabar

No fewer than 20 passengers were abducted by sea pirates along the Calabar waterways on Friday, a naval officer said, as security agencies launched a search-and-rescue operation for the victims.

The naval officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said gunmen ambushed a passenger ferry travelling from Calabar in Cross River State to Oron in Akwa Ibom State.

He said the pirates struck while the ferry was on the waterway and whisked away the passengers at gunpoint.

The spokesperson for the Cross River Police Command, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, said in a statement on Monday that coordinated search-and-rescue and tactical operations were ongoing.

Army Foils Ambush in Cross River, Kills Four Gunmen — Map of Cross River State. Credit: Guardian.

“The command is working in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom Command and the Navy,” Eitokpah said.

“Coordinated search-and-rescue and tactical operations are currently ongoing to ensure the safe recovery of the victims and the swift apprehension of the perpetrators.”

The Calabar–Oron waterway is a major inland maritime corridor linking Cross River State to Akwa Ibom State. It serves as a key alternative route for passengers and goods across the lower reaches of the Cross River and its creeks.

Author

Jimisayo Opanuga

Jimisayo Opanuga is a web writer in the Digital Department at News Central TV, where she covers African and international stories. Her reporting focuses on social issues, health, justice, and the environment, alongside general-interest news. She is passionate about telling stories that inform the public and give voice to underreported communities.