No fewer than 17 passengers abducted by gunmen along the Calabar-Oron waterway have regained their freedom after spending nearly two weeks in captivity.
The victims, who were taken hostage during a ferry trip from Calabar, Cross River State to Oron in Akwa Ibom, were rescued on Monday following a coordinated operation by the Nigerian Navy.
A senior naval officer, who requested anonymity, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar. He said the Navy acted swiftly on intelligence and was able to free all 17 victims without any ransom being paid.
“We acted on credible intelligence and quickly moved to secure the area,” the officer said. “We blocked off the only known exit from the creek to prevent the kidnappers from relocating their hostages.”
He added that the operation was carried out with extreme caution to avoid putting the victims at risk.
“The abductors had run out of food supplies and, realizing they were surrounded, they had no choice but to abandon the hostages,” he explained. “We deliberately avoided direct confrontation with the kidnappers to ensure the safety of the passengers.”
All 17 rescued individuals were taken to the Naval Reference Hospital in Calabar for medical evaluation and care, the officer confirmed. He added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators, while assuring the public that the waterways remain under surveillance.
“The Calabar waterway is safe,” he emphasized. “We remain committed to protecting lives and ensuring the free movement of goods and passengers.”
The incident occurred 12 days earlier when gunmen hijacked a passenger boat en route to Oron. While 17 passengers were taken, others—including Akwa Ibom State Police spokesperson, DSP Timfon John—were left behind, reportedly because the kidnappers had no room left in their boat.
As of the time of this report, authorities had not disclosed the identities of the rescued passengers, but investigations are ongoing to bring the kidnappers to justice.
