BREAKING: Sea Pirates Abduct 20 Passengers, Including JAMB Candidates, Along Calabar Waterways

Sea pirates have abducted 20 passengers, including several candidates for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), on Friday along the Calabar waterways.

The passengers were travelling aboard a ferry from Calabar in Cross River State to Oron in Akwa Ibom State when the attack occurred.

A naval officer, speaking anonymously, confirmed the incident, stating that armed pirates ambushed the ferry and took the passengers at gunpoint.

While the exact number of victims has not been officially confirmed, sources indicated that many of those abducted were JAMB candidates on their way to Akwa Ibom State to sit for their exams.

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The Cross River State Police Command has yet to confirm or deny the abduction. Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Eitokpah, suggested that the Akwa Ibom State Police Command might provide more details, as the ferry was headed for Oron.

The abduction has raised fresh concerns over the safety of waterways in the South-South region, particularly for students travelling for national exams.

As of now, there has been no official update from the Nigerian Navy or other security agencies on the rescue efforts or the current status of the abducted passengers.

This incident follows a similar abduction of passengers, including JAMB candidates, along the Makurdi-Otukpo road in Benue State, heightening concerns about the safety of students during the examination period.

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