The Police Command in Cross River State has confirmed the kidnapping of 17 passengers by pirates alongside the Calabar waterways.
Igri Ewa, the deputy police public relations officer in Cross River, who confirmed this to reporters on Saturday in Calabar, stated that the passengers have been kidnapped on Thursday.
Ewa, a deputy superintendent of police, stated that the command had already swung into motion to make sure the “immediate” rescue of the victims.
In keeping with the police spokesperson, a serving police officer in Akwa Ibom and a preferred politician in Cross River, who have been on board the boat, narrowly escaped abduction.
A passenger who most popular anonymity advised reporters that the boat was attacked a couple of minutes after take-off from Oron, Akwa Ibom State, en path to Calabar, Cross River State.
“They stopped our boat, transferred some passengers to their boat, and when their boat was full, they took off.
“Once we arrived on the Inland Waterways Jetty, we have been totally quizzed by the police. Our statements have been later taken earlier than we have been allowed to go dwelling,” the passenger stated.
An analogous incident occurred in April, when pirates abducted 20 passengers who have been travelling in a ship from Oron to Calabar.
Passengers to each states now favor to journey by water as a result of the Calabar-Itu Federal Freeway is dilapidated.
Pirates disrupting lives, companies in Akwa Ibom and Cross River
The operations of pirates alongside the Oron-Calabar waterways have remained a risk to passengers’ journey and companies between Akwa Ibom and Cross River.
A police inspector in Akwa Ibom was declared missing final January after a shootout between police operatives and a few pirates wearing navy camouflage alongside the Oron-Calabar waterways. Two operatives have been injured within the incident, based on the police.
“The assailants, numbering about 24 and working in three speedboats, tried to overpower our officers in a gun duel. Our officers put up a courageous combat however sustained losses,” Ms John, the police spokesperson in Akwa Ibom, stated, in January, of the incident.
A 2023 report by Punch newspaper detailed how pirates’ operations have crippled companies in coastal communities in Akwa Ibom.
“Fishing is our predominant occupation and the one technique of our livelihood. Regrettably, we’re not protected at Sea. I’ve misplaced two outboard engines to the actions of Sea pirates, and every of those engines price over N3 million,” the paper quoted a ship proprietor within the Ibaka neighborhood, Effiong Etim.
“We now have tried ourselves, and our youths have additionally tried, however the extra we strive, the extra the pirates assault us. That is our predicament.
“I’m utilizing this medium to attraction as soon as once more to the safety businesses to maintain their operation at sea to curb these assaults.”
The operations of pirates have contributed to the hovering costs of meals gadgets like crayfish in Akwa Ibom, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, final yr, appealed to the authorities of the Nigerian Military to determine a battalion within the Oron axis of the state to curb the rising charges of kidnapping within the space.
“Most kidnappings occur they usually undergo the waters,” Mr Eno advised a delegation from the military, led by the previous Chief of Military Employees, Taoreed Lagbaja, which visited him in Authorities Home Uyo in August 2024.
“So, we’d have the ability to work with you when you give us the approval to website one other battalion round Oron axis, it will do us an awesome favour,” the governor added.
Mr Lagbaja, now late, and the military have been in Akwa Ibom for the mixed second and third quarters of the Chief of Military Employees Convention.
Insecurity in Oron axis
Mr Eno’s “Oron axis” referred to the 5 native authorities areas of Oron, Mbo, Okobo, Udung Uko, and Urue Offong/ Uruko in Akwa Ibom.
Primarily coastal, the 5 native governments have turn into a hotbed for kidnappers within the latest previous, which is why Mr Eno is searching for a military battalion to sort out it.
Mr Eno’s request got here months after the Home of Representatives requested Mr Lagbaja to determine a navy formation in Oron to sort out the hovering kidnappings and killings within the space.
The Home reached the decision following a movement by Martins Esin, the Oron Federal Constituency lawmaker.
Mr Esin, who’s the chairperson of the Home Committee on Youth Growth, blamed kidnappings, piracy, armed theft and wanton killings within the space on the dearth of satisfactory safety businesses within the space, Punch newspaper reported.
PREMIUM TIMES has reported some high-profile abductions within the Oron axis of the state since Mr Eno grew to become governor.
Final yr, gunmen kidnapped eight individuals, together with a naval operative, at Basic Level Resort, a rest spot in Ibaka, Mbo native authorities space of the state.
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Additionally, final yr, gunmen kidnapped Okon Abang, the paramount ruler of Mbo Native Authorities Space of the state. The gunmen invaded the royal father’s palace at Ebughu at evening and kidnapped him.
Per week earlier than the normal ruler was kidnapped, the spouse of Asuquo Okon, a distinguished politician within the space, was kidnapped within the Oron Native Authorities Space.
Additionally, in the identical space, John Esu, a medical physician, was kidnapped, prompting the Nigeria Medical Affiliation within the state to direct its members to withdraw their companies from each non-public and public hospitals within the state.
A Excessive Court docket choose, Pleasure Unwana, was kidnapped in 2023, and her safety guard was shot lifeless whereas they have been returning to Uyo from Oron, the place she had a court docket session.
