At least 20 passengers among them students heading to write their UTME exams were reportedly abducted by sea pirates along the Calabar waterways on Friday.
According to a naval officer who spoke anonymously, the attackers ambushed a passenger ferry travelling from Calabar in Cross River State to Oron in Akwa Ibom.
The gunmen struck mid-journey, holding passengers at gunpoint before taking them away.
Authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of victims, but sources say several of those taken were on their way to sit for the JAMB examination.
Police in Cross River have not officially confirmed the incident, with a spokesperson suggesting their counterparts in Akwa Ibom are better placed to respond.
The attack has once again raised concerns about the safety of waterways in the region especially for young people travelling for important national exams.
In a separate incident, police in Benue State have arrested seven suspected militia herdsmen linked to the kidnapping of passengers including individuals initially believed to be UTME candidates along the Makurdi–Otukpo road.
The victims, who were travelling in a Benue Links bus, have all been rescued.
State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, said the operation involved multiple security agencies.
Five victims were released earlier, while the remaining 13 were freed during a follow-up rescue effort.
“We were able to put enough pressure on the kidnappers to secure their safe release,” he said, adding that eight suspects are currently in custody and some have already been identified by the victims.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, while receiving the rescued passengers, expressed concern over the growing cases of kidnapping in the state.
He welcomed the safe return of all victims and confirmed that several suspects had been arrested.
He also urged the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to consider rescheduling exams for affected candidates, so they don’t lose their opportunity.
The governor assured that the state would provide medical care and other support for the victims, while calling on residents to continue sharing useful information with security agencies.
There has been some confusion over whether the Benue victims were actually UTME candidates.
Police initially described that claim as incorrect, and JAMB later clarified that the passengers were travelling for a police recruitment exercise not for exams.
Details of the rescue reveal that the victims spent about three days in captivity before being freed early Sunday morning.
Security forces, working with local communities, tracked them to a forest in Okere Ward, Ohimini Local Government Area.
Two of the victims managed to escape on their own before the final rescue operation.
Following their release, the victims were taken for medical care at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital in Otukpo.
Despite the successful rescue in Benue, the Calabar waterway abduction remains unresolved, leaving families anxious and raising fresh questions about travel safety across the region.
