The Cross River State Police Command has confirmed that 17 passengers were kidnapped by sea pirates along the Calabar Waterways.
The confirmation was made on Saturday in Calabar by the command’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, DSP Igri Ewa, who stated that the abduction occurred on Thursday.
Ewa noted that the police have launched a swift response to secure the immediate rescue of the victims.
He also revealed that a serving police officer from Akwa Ibom and a well-known politician from Cross River, who were aboard the same boat, narrowly avoided being kidnapped.
A passenger who preferred anonymity told newsmen that the boat was attacked a few minutes after take-off from Oron en route Calabar.
“They stopped our boat, transferred some passengers to their boat, and when their boat was full, they took off.
“When we arrived at the Inland Waterways Jetty, we were thoroughly quizzed by the police. Our statements were later taken before we were allowed to go home.”