Gunmen abduct ‘20 passengers’ along Akwa Ibom-Cross River waterways

Gunmen have reportedly kidnapped 20 passengers from a boat along the Akwa Ibom-Cross River waterways.

The boat was said to have been conveying passengers from Oron in Akwa Ibom state to Cross River state on April 18 when the incident occurred.

When TheCable reached out to Timfon John, Akwa Ibom police spokesperson, she said the incident happened at the Calabar waterways.

The police spokesperson said the command is working to ensure the release of the victims.

“The incident happened in Calabar waterways. However, we are collaborating to get the people involved released unhurt pls,” she said.

Irene Ugbo, Cross River state police spokesperson, told TheCable that she has not received any report about the incident.

Ugbo said she will reach out to appropriate persons to find out if the incident has been reported.

This is not the first time gunmen will kidnap boat passengers along waterways in Nigeria.

On April 5, suspected sea pirates abducted five passengers from a commercial boat travelling along the Degema–Akuku-Toru waterways in Rivers state.

The incident occurred while the boat was en route from Bille in the Degema LGA to Port Harcourt.

In September 2024, suspected pirates kidnapped about 10 passengers along the Bonny waterways in Rivers state.