Gunmen kidnap 15 boat passengers in Cross River

Gunmen abducted at least 15 passengers along the Calabar–Oron waterway in Cross River State on Friday.

This newspaper gathered on Monday that coordinated search-and-rescue and tactical operations are ongoing to secure the victims’ release.

The victims were kidnapped while travelling aboard a Sea Express boat from Calabar to Oron, triggering a joint security response involving multiple agencies.

The Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Eitokpah, confirmed that the command had activated rescue efforts in collaboration with other security outfits.

He stated that the police are working closely with the Nigeria Police Force in Akwa Ibom State and the Nigerian Navy to ensure the victims’ safe return.

“With respect to the alleged abduction of fifteen passengers aboard a Sea Express boat en route from Calabar to Oron on Friday, the command is working in close synergy with the Akwa Ibom State Police Command and the Nigerian Navy,” he said.

He added that operations were already underway to rescue the victims and apprehend those responsible.

“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,” Eitokpah stated.

Although details of the attack remain unclear, authorities assured the public that updates would be provided as operations continue, urging residents to remain calm and share useful information with security agencies.

A naval source, quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria, said the gunmen ambushed the passenger ferry during the trip from Calabar to Oron.

The Calabar–Oron waterway, which links Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, is a vital inland transport route for both passengers and goods. However, it has increasingly gained notoriety for piracy, kidnappings, and armed attacks, largely due to the maze of creeks and mangroves that provide cover for criminal groups.