The Cross River State Police Command has confirmed that 17 passengers were kidnapped by armed sea pirates along the Calabar waterways.
The attack happened on Thursday when gunmen intercepted a commercial passenger boat operated by Sea Express Limited.
The vessel, which was conveying over 30 passengers from Calabar in Cross River State to Oron in Akwa Ibom, was diverted mid-journey.
Deputy Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, DSP Igri Ewa, confirmed the development on Friday night, noting that the victims were taken away to an undisclosed location.
“We are aware of the abduction and we are making efforts to rescue the victims. At the moment, no contact has been made by their abductors, but we are on our toes to ensure they are released,” Ewa said.
Relatives of those abducted have reportedly been unable to reach them as their mobile phones remain switched off.
According to a source who spoke with Vanguard, the pirates took away only 17 passengers because their escape boat could not accommodate more people.
Among those who narrowly escaped the incident was the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in the 2023 Cross River State election.
