By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Akwa Ibom and Cross River Police Commands said they have launched concerted ,and coordinated response to locate and rescue 15 passengers abducted by suspected pirates along Calabar/Oron Waterways.
The inter-command rescue efforts are sequel to a marching order from the Assistant Inspector -General of Police AIG Zone 6, Auwal Musa, for the deployment all available logistical and human equipment to ensure the swift release of the victims.
The source reports that suspected pirates on Friday, April 17, 2026, ambushed, attacked and whisked away over 20 persons aboard a passenger boat while heading from Calabar to Oron.
The Police has however put the number of victims at 15.
Most of the kidnapped victims were, allegedly, students and candidates on their way to write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination UTME.
In a statement on Monday April 20, 2026, from its spokesperson Timfon John, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command informed that it is already working in synergy with its Cross River state counterpart to carry out the rescue order from the AIG.
The Command stated that a combined team of crack Marine and Tactical operatives and intelligence assets, with the capacity to dominate the waterways and adjourning creeks, have been deployed to track down the suspected hoodlums ,and effect the safe release of the victims.
“Acting on the directive of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 6, the Commissioner of Police Akwa Ibom State Command, Baba Mohammed Azare, has ordered sustained intelligence-driven operations, including coordinated patrols, surveillance, and targeted raids across identified criminal hideouts within the maritime corridor.
“The Commissioner of Police reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safe rescue of all abducted persons and bringing the perpetrators to justice”, John stated.
In the same vein, the Cross River State Police spokesperson, Eitokpah Sunday Akata, confirmed that the Command is collaborating with its Akwa Ibom State counterpart, to ensure that the victims are rescued unhurt and the masterminds held accountable.
He emphasized that coordinated and intelligence-driven operations are already underway, with operatives combing all identified hotspots in search of both the victims and the hoodlums.
The Source further reports that the AIG had earlier directed the two sister Commands to temporarily set aside jurisdictional limitations, operational boundaries and take all necessary measures to ensure swift ,and safe rescue of the victims ,as well as hunt down the perpetrators.
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