Cross River State Government has dismissed claims by the police over the alleged abduction of 15 passengers, including JAMB candidates, along the Calabar–Oron waterway.
The passengers were reportedly kidnapped aboard a Sea Express boat on Friday, April 17, 2026, prompting statements from the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Zone 6), Auwal Mohammed, and the Cross River and Akwa Ibom State Commands, which confirmed the incident and ordered a search and rescue operation.
However, about 72 hours later, the state government described the report as false, insisting that no such incident occurred on the official Calabar–Oron route.
In a statement issued by the Department of Marine Services and signed by Ededem Effiwatt, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Marine Services, Capt. Otu Ita Otu, said the alleged incident did not take place within the state’s regulated waterway.
“We wish to state unequivocally that no such incident occurred on the official Calabar–Oron waterway, which is under the jurisdiction and surveillance of the Cross River State Government,” the statement said.
According to the government, preliminary findings showed that although the boat departed Calabar for Oron, it deviated from the approved route and took an unregulated shortcut not recognised within the state’s maritime transport corridor.
Otu added that he was on a scheduled marine patrol on the same route alongside the State Security Adviser at the time, with no record of any attack, abduction, or security breach.
He noted that vessels operating on the official route are required to pass through at least five marine security checkpoints strategically positioned to ensure passenger safety before arrival at Oron.
The government reiterated its restriction on movement along the waterway from 5:00 p.m. daily, urging operators and passengers to comply strictly with approved routes and safety guidelines.
It warned that the use of unapproved shortcuts and violation of operating hours expose passengers to avoidable risks and undermine the state’s maritime security framework.
Source: Daily post
