Suspected sea pirates have abducted no fewer than 20 passengers, including candidates scheduled to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), along the waterways in Calabar.

The attack occurred when a passenger boat travelling the busy Calabar–Oron route was intercepted by heavily armed men.

Eyewitnesses said the assailants stormed the vessel mid-journey, firing shots into the air before forcing passengers into waiting boats and whisking them away to an unknown destination.

Sources revealed that some of the victims were students heading to examination centres for the UTME conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, raising concerns about the safety of candidates participating in the nationwide exercise.

As of the time of filing this report, security agencies were yet to issue an official statement confirming the incident.

However, local authorities indicated that investigations were ongoing, with efforts being made to track the attackers and secure the release of the victims.

The Calabar–Oron waterway remains a critical transport corridor linking Cross River State and Akwa Ibom State.

Due to the poor condition of road networks in the area, many commuters rely heavily on water transport, making them vulnerable to attacks by criminal groups.

This latest abduction has heightened fears over the growing insecurity on Nigeria’s inland waterways, where incidents of piracy, kidnapping, and armed robbery have become increasingly frequent.

Families of the abducted passengers have appealed to the government and security agencies to intensify rescue operations and ensure the safe return of their loved ones.

Stakeholders have also called for improved maritime security, especially during critical national exercises such as the UTME, to prevent further disruptions and safeguard lives.