20 Calabar-Oron Bound Boat Passengers Kidnapped, Abductors Demand N100m Ramsom

No fewer than twenty Passengers have been reportedly kidnapped along the Calabar–Akwa Ibom waterways after their flying boat was intercepted by armed kidnappers.

 Sources disclosed  that the travellers boarded the “Heavenly Grace” boat in Calabar at the weekend and were bound for Akwa Ibom state.

 Two hours into the journey, the boat was roughly overtaken  by a group of stern-looking,  hooded gunmen who forced the crew to stop and ordered all passengers ashore.

The kidnappers also transferred all the goods inside the boat to their own and zoomed off to unknown destination, leaving the boat to float.

 The bandits were able to contact a family member of one of the victims, Mr Odey Idika, who confirmed that the kidnappers were demanding a ransom of one hundred million Naira (₦100,000,000) for the release of Mr Idika and his fellow captives.

The Cross River state Anti-Cultism Unit  has already been contacted who advised family members of the victims  to file a formal complaint with the Nigeria Police Force, assuring that a thorough investigation would follow.

 In recent times, kidnappers have increasingly targeted waterways in the region, exploiting limited naval patrols and poor communication infrastructure.
 
Commuters had made several calls for enhanced riverine security measures, including frequent patrols by the Marine Police as well deployment of surveillance boats to curtail illegal activities in the area without positive results.