About 15 passengers travelling from Calabar to Oron have reportedly been abducted by gunmen along the Calabar waterways.

Sources at Safe Anchor Beach in Calabar, who requested anonymity, said the attackers ambushed a ferry conveying the passengers on Friday and took them away.

As of press time, the exact number of victims remained unclear. It also remained uncertain whether any of those abducted were students travelling to sit the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, said: “Though the unfortunate incident didn’t happen in my jurisdiction.

“We are working in close synergy with the Akwa Ibom State Police Command and the Nigerian Navy. 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 has gained a reputation as a hotspot for abductions, with attackers targeting travellers along the route.

Despite the risks, many commuters continue to use the waterway to avoid the poor condition of the Calabar–Itu Road.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 6, Calabar, Auwal Musa Mohammed, ordered immediate and sustained joint security operations following the recent pirate attack on a passenger ferry along the Calabar-Oron waterways on April 16, 2026, during which 15 persons were abducted.

The Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Jefferson Osupe, in a statement on behalf of the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 6 headquarters mandated the Commissioners of Police in Cross River State, Rashid Afegbua and his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Baba Mohammed Azare, to immediately activate a robust, intelligence-driven and coordinated inter-state security framework aimed at the swift rescue of the victims and the apprehension of all perpetrators.

The directive emphasises seamless collaboration between both State Commands, in synergy with the Nigerian Navy and other relevant security agencies, to dominate the waterways, dismantle criminal networks, and restore confidence in maritime safety across the zone.

The AIG charged the Commissioners of Police to set aside all jurisdictional limitations and operational boundaries, and to deploy all available tactical and intelligence assets towards achieving this mission.

He stressed that the rescue of the abducted victims remains a top operational priority and warned that the command will pursue the perpetrators relentlessly until justice is served.

While condemning the attack, the AIG reassured residents and maritime operators in both states that the Nigeria Police Force under Zone 6 remains resolute, proactive, and fully committed to safeguarding lives and property.

He urged the public to remain calm, law-abiding, and to promptly report any suspicious activities, particularly along coastal and riverine communities.

He reiterated the Zone 6 Headquarters’ commitment to transparency and timely communication as operations progress, in order to sustain public trust and mitigate undue tension.

The Zone assured that there will be no safe haven for criminals within Zone 6.