Police, EFCC Rescue 14 Kidnap Victims Along Calabar-Oron Waterways

Fourteen people abducted by sea pirates along the Calabar-Oron waterways have been rescued, Akwa Ibom police announced on Tuesday.

The operation was a joint effort between the Akwa Ibom State Police Command and EFCC operatives. State police spokesperson DSP Timfon John said the rescued victims are undergoing medical evaluation in Uyo and will be reunited with their families after debriefing.

“The operation followed sustained intelligence-driven efforts, robust inter-agency collaboration, and relentless pressure mounted on criminal elements operating within the maritime corridor,” John said in a statement.

Officers acted on credible intelligence, intensified surveillance across identified flashpoints, and launched targeted operations that resulted in the safe release of all 14 victims — with no lives lost. Efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest those responsible for the abduction.

The Calabar-Oron waterways have become a consistent flashpoint for sea piracy, with multiple kidnapping incidents reported along the corridor connecting Cross River and Akwa Ibom states. The rescue comes just days after the Senate ordered the Navy to intervene in a separate abduction of 15 passengers along the same waterways — a sign of how regularly these attacks are hitting commercial boats in the area.

Sources: Daily Trust, Premium Times, The Times, National Accord