15 seized in Calabar–Oron waterway attack amid rising coastal insecurity

Gunmen have abducted at least 15 passengers travelling by boat between Calabar and Oron, in the latest attack to hit one of Nigeria’s busiest, and increasingly dangerous, coastal routes.

The passengers were taken on Friday after armed men ambushed a ferry along the Calabar–Oron waterways, according to the police.

The Nigeria police confirmed the incident on Monday, saying a joint operation is underway to rescue the victims.

“The command is working in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom Command and the Navy,” said Cross River police spokesperson Sunday Eitokpah, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.

“Coordinated search-and-rescue and tactical operations are currently ongoing to ensure the safe recovery of the victims and the swift apprehension of the perpetrators.”

The attack highlights a growing pattern of insecurity along Nigeria’s coastal corridors, where waterways have become critical transport routes but remain thinly policed.

Travel by water has surged in recent years, driven in part by the poor state of the Calabar–Itu federal highway, a key road link between Cross River and Akwa Ibom states that has fallen into disrepair. For many commuters, traders and small-scale operators, boats now offer a faster—if riskier—alternative.

This shift has created new vulnerabilities.

Pluboard’s previous reporting on Nigeria’s coastal economy has documented how weak security presence across riverine communities has exposed fishers, traders and transport operators to rising attacks, including piracy, theft and abductions. The same dynamics are now increasingly affecting passenger travel.

The Calabar–Oron route has emerged as a particular hotspot.

In 2025, several passengers were abducted along the same corridor by gunmen. In most cases, victims were held for ransom, reflecting a broader trend of criminal groups exploiting gaps in maritime security.

While Nigeria’s inland waterways fall under multiple security agencies, including the navy and marine police, enforcement remains fragmented. Patrol coverage is limited, response times are often slow, and vast stretches of creeks and open water remain unmonitored.

The result is a widening security gap in coastal transport networks, just as economic activity along these routes intensifies.

For local communities, the risks are no longer confined to traditional livelihoods like fishing. Traders moving goods, commuters travelling for work, and even inter-state passengers are increasingly exposed.