Senate Orders Rescue of 15 Abducted Passengers in Nigeria

On Thursday, the Nigerian Senate ordered security agencies to immediately commence coordinated rescue operations for 15 passengers abducted by suspected sea pirates along the Calabar-Oron waterway. The resolution followed an urgent motion sponsored by Senator Ekong Sampson from Akwa Ibom South, who condemned the hijacking of a commercial ferry that occurred last Friday.

The victims, including young Nigerians preparing for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), were reportedly taken at gunpoint during the attack. Eyewitness accounts from local fishermen confirmed that the vessel was seized and the victims were taken to an unknown location, raising concerns about the increasing vulnerability of the Calabar-Oron waterway.

The Senate expressed sympathy for the victims' families and urged the Chief of Naval Staff and the Inspector General of Police to deploy resources for the safe and unconditional release of the abducted individuals. Additionally, the Senate called for intensified surveillance and patrols to address the root causes of maritime insecurity in the Niger Delta.