The Senate has called for the immediate rescue of 15 passengers abducted by suspected sea pirates on the Calabar–Oron waterways last Friday. Among those taken were students preparing for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), according to Senator Sampson, who presented a motion on the incident. The attack occurred mid-sea on a ferry traveling from Calabar to Oron, with eyewitnesses and local fishermen confirming the vessel was seized and the victims taken to unknown locations. The Senate condemned the attack as a serious threat to national security, human safety, and economic activity in the region.
Lawmakers expressed concern over the persistent insecurity on the waterways despite repeated assurances from security agencies. The Nigerian Navy, Marine Police, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have been urged to increase surveillance, patrols, and intelligence gathering. The Senate's Committees on Navy, Marine Transport, and National Security and Intelligence are to investigate the rising maritime crime in the Niger Delta and propose long-term solutions. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has been directed to consider measures to stop candidates from traveling across states for the UTME due to safety risks. The Federal Ministry of Works has also been told to speed up work on the Calabar–Itu–Odukpani Highway to reduce reliance on water transport.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged security agencies to act swiftly, stating, "We sympathise with the families and victims and urge security agencies to do everything possible to ensure the safe return of those in captivity." He emphasized the need for greater naval presence, citing the strategic importance of the route and poor road infrastructure in the area.
The Senate demands action on waterway insecurity while simultaneously pushing for a highway fix, exposing a pattern of delayed infrastructure response after lives are already at risk. Students preparing for the 2026 UTME are now hostages, yet JAMB's role in enabling dangerous inter-state travel only draws attention when abductions occur. If the Calabar–Itu–Odukpani Highway had been completed earlier, these passengers might not have been on that ferry at all. The delay benefits no one but the pirates who operate with growing ease.
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