By Kelvin Obambon
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 6, Auwal Musa Mohammed, has ordered a massive joint security operation following the abduction of about 15 passengers by pirates along the Calabar–Oron waterways.
The incident, which occurred between late Thursday, April 16, and Friday, April 17, 2026, saw gun-wielding attackers ambush a passenger ferry. Sources at the Safe Anchor beach in Calabar, speaking on the condition of anonymity, described a harrowing scene where the kidnappers intercepted the vessel mid-journey, forcing the victims into captivity.
While unconfirmed reports suggest some of the victims may be students traveling to sit for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations, the police have yet to release a verified manifest of the abductees.
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In a decisive move to secure the maritime corridor, AIG Mohammed mandated the Commissioners of Police for Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, Rashid B. Afegbua and Baba Mohammed Azare, to dismantle all jurisdictional boundaries to ensure the victims’ safe return.
“The rescue of the abducted victims remains a top operational priority,” the AIG stated in a directive released through the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Jefferson Osupe. “The Command will pursue the perpetrators relentlessly until justice is served.”
The AIG’s order explicitly instructs both state commands to collaborate with the Nigerian Navy and other maritime security agencies to “dominate the waterways” and “dismantle criminal networks.”
The attack highlights the ongoing dangers of the Calabar–Oron route, which many travelers prefer over the dilapidated and often impassable Calabar–Itu Road. Despite its popularity, the waterway has become a flashpoint for maritime crime.
Initial responses from local commands reflected the jurisdictional complexities the AIG has now ordered his officers to ignore. Speaking earlier on the incident, the Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, noted: “The unfortunate incident didn’t happen in my jurisdiction. I believe PPRO Akwa Ibom would provide more updates on it.”
As the joint operations commence, Zone 6 Headquarters has urged residents of coastal and riverine communities to remain calm and report any suspicious activities.
The AIG reassured maritime operators that the Nigeria Police Force remains “resolute and proactive,” emphasizing that there will be “no safe haven for criminals” within the zone.
