The Oron-Calabar waterway, a vital transportation and economic lifeline connecting Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, has become increasingly perilous due to rampant sea piracy and insecurity, EMEM JULIUS reports

The Oron-Calabar waterway is part of the Cross River estuary, and it is a significant feature of the region, serving as a transportation and economic corridor. It is regarded as the alternative route to the neigbouring Akwa Ibom State since the Calabar-Itu Federal highway is in a deplorable and impassable state. The waterway is known for their swampy rainforest setting, numerous creeks, and the inland delta formed near the confluence with the Calabar River.

The waterway facilitates transportation of goods and people between the cities of Oron and Calabar, playing a crucial role in connecting communities, supporting trade and improving the economic statuses of both the government of Cross River and her sister Akwa Ibom state, respectively. It is also one of the most important sectors generating lots of revenue to the two states, adding more beauty to Cross River tourism calendar and making every journey to Akwa Ibom State and by extension South-South and South-East regions of the country hitch-free.

Similarly, the waterways are vital for various economic activities, including fishing, agriculture, and tourism. Piracy, smuggling, and oil bunkering have been a recurring issue in the Oron-Calabar waterways, posing threats to passengers and businesses.

Conversely, boat and engine replacement, along with other factors like bad weather, have been identified as major operational challenges for inland waterways transport in the region. While safety equipment is typically provided, adherence to safety measures by passengers, as well as challenges like extortion by law enforcement agents, remain concerns.

Travelers have had to rely on the sea route for trips to and from Calabar, as the Calabar-Itu Road which project is being handled by the federal government is not making any meaningful progress. Most of those who travel to or out of the Cross River State capital during the yuletide season through the Calabar road had a hell of experience due to the deplorable condition of the road. Between the contractors and the federal government, it is not clear who is to blame for the slow pace of work on the Calabar-Itu Road.

]Those travelling from Akwa Ibom to Calabar through the Oron or Uyo sea route will find it difficult to make the trip from now, following the activities of sea pirates who appear to have taken full control of the sea routes. Boat drivers on the Calabar-Oron waterways are lamenting that despite the money they spend on security agencies, sea pirates are still attacking their boats and kidnapping their passengers. Travelers are now in despair due to the uncertainty surrounding safety on the sea routes because sea pirates have made travelling experience very nasty.

One of the drivers confided in our correspondent that they spend about N155,000 every month on the security operatives and regretted that they were not getting any protections from the operatives.

As a result of the deploring condition of the Calabar-Itu Road, travelers now prefer to access Calabar and Uyo through the waterways. It takes about 30 minutes to journey by water from Calabar to Oron, instead of the over five to eight hours that commuters spend on the road to Uyo, from Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.

In December 2021, a boat with five passengers was hijacked. A few of the passengers individually paid ransoms of N200,000 before they were released. Before then, in 2019, the hijack was on a daily basis which were reasons trips on the waterways were suspended for about two months.

Several protests have been made by traditional rulers, clerics, youths, groups, and many others on the need to strengthen the security status of the Calabar-Oron Waterways, yet piracy on the route has been rampant.

Still 2021, Groups protested to the police and navy headquarters in Cross River state.  It was as a result of the protests and stoppage of boat operations that the two authorities decided to station their gun boats in the Calabar waters while the naval police station theirs on the Akwa Ibom end of the waters to deter militants and pirates.

One of the drivers who identified himself as Akan Efiom, disclosed that “When they carry out and hijack our boats like this, we would normally contribute, say N250,000 to secure release of the boat and its engine, but they will never release both the boat and engine. They will collect our money, collect ransoms and still will not give us back our boats. We appeal that attention of the security be focused towards this direction even though we are not scared”, he said.

A traveler who used the Calabar-Oron sea route recently and gave his name as Clement Isok, from Uyo shared his experience and warned people to avoid the sea route for now.

He wrote: “Yesterday, I travelled via Calabar-Oron Waters only to find ourselves in the cross hairs of heavily armed bandits hiding in the creeks. The boat I was on, came under attack, with the bandits targeting and shooting at our engines. Initially, passengers mistook the gunfire for an engine backfire, but it soon became clear that our lives were at risk. Fortunately, our boat managed to escape unscathed, but the same cannot be said for others who travelled this route earlier in the day.”

In 2022, about 17 passengers were kidnapped by sea pirates on that waterway which five of the abducted persons have so far been released, among them, the boat driver, Bassey Udo Essien, told newsmen that the hijack was done by heavily armed pirates.

Essien said he was later freed in order to take one of the victims who was fatally wounded by the pirates’ bullets for treatment, noting that the abductors had no form of medication in the camp.

“In the morning of Monday, January 17, 2022, we loaded from Calabar to Oron. Immediately we passed all the rounds and close to the Marine police at about 9:00am, we drove in the middle of the water because if we drive by the side of the water those sea pirates will quickly attack us. Just a few minutes, about 10 minutes drive, we saw them driving to meet us. I increased the speed of our boat to the highest, unfortunately; it was not fast enough because our engine is 115 horsepower while theirs is 200 horsepower.”

“I could not slow down because I was trying to escape from them, they started shooting. They shot sporadically at us and unfortunately, the bullet caught one of the passengers by the name Jesam on the face, close to the ear who sat at the second bench of the boat.”

He disclosed that those pirates were up to eight in their boat fully armed with AK-47 rifle, some masked their faces while some did not mask face, although he could not identify any of them.

“I was speeding up to cross to the Marine Police territory so they can return but my boat cannot speed than their own. They kidnapped us and took us to one dangerous creek when we just departed Calabar and had not approached Oron. At the creek where they took us, they robbed us and collected everything we had including phones, money, shoes, wristwatches, bags, ATM cards, necklace, my boat; everything and also beat us. They demanded for N3 million from each of us and we were 17. The passenger who sustained gunshot wounds, Jesam did not escape. They knew with the gun injury he was at the point of death since Monday and maybe they thought if they allow him there, he might die because nothing like treatment in their creek.”

“They collected his phone, money and laptop. Since I was the one taking care of the man there, they collected my money about N49,000, phone, seized my boat and asked me to go with Jesam so that he can get treatment. They beat me up and forced me to tell them my ATM pin which I don’t know if they have removed everything from the account because they collected my Sim card as well.”

“They carried five of us in their boat and told us to lie down. The five of us they freed to go were- one pregnant woman, aged woman and a boy of about four years. Still left in their camp are 12 more persons. They dumped us where we don’t even know but we found our way somewhere in Akpabuyo Local government Area of Cross River, let’s say 10 pm, because I did not have time with me. Luckily for me and Jesam, we were able to find a bike. We had seven girls and10 boys in the boat. My fear for those girls is that those pirates might rape them.”

“While they were taking us to their camp, they forced us to close our eyes and bend down without looking up to see where they were taking us to. Even while they were taking five of us out to free, they blindfolded our eyes, especially mine. It was a terrible experience; they will cook whatever and anyhow food they like and say if you like you eat, if you don’t, leave.”

Sadly, fishing business owners and their business fortunes have recently been threatened due to the nefarious activities of sea pirates who terrorise them at sea, seize their outboard engines and sometimes kidnap them for ransom. The sea pirates harass them oftentimes at gunpoint at sea and forcefully collect their cash. Obviously, these Sea pirates have crippled fishing business and other water-related businesses. The attacks are now a recurring phenomenon, as all efforts by security agencies to curb their excesses had yielded little or no results.

On May 28, 2023, about 15 passengers were kidnapped along the Calabar-Oron waterways. Relatives of some of the abducted passengers have lamented that the militants may have overwhelmed the marine policemen who are usually stationed on the waterway.

Two of the family members who lamented the non-rescue of the abductees said the militants reportedly came on a speed boat and were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons.

Mrs Mary Akpan, sister of one of the kidnapped victims, lamenting at the Calabar beach where she came to hear if there were developments towards their rescue said, “My brother was rushing to Itu in Akwa Ibom State to attend a funeral meeting and decided to use the speed boat when the militants accosted and overpowered them.”

Another affected relative, Essien Ita, who also lamented at the beach, recalled that the militants had also kidnapped a good number of seafarers that same week, and nothing has been heard about them since, adding that the Calabar waterway has become notorious and dangerous for water travellers in recent times.

In January 2025, the pirates attacked the Marine Police Patrol Team in Oron, Akwa Ibom, making off with a police boat equipped with a special gun. Two officers were shot during the incident, with one still hospitalised.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Police Command, DSP Timfon John, had confirmed the attack in a statement issued on January 13, stating that the Patrol Team came under heavy attack from the criminals, who were armed and dressed in military camouflage.  According to the Command’s spokesperson, the assailants, numbering about 24 and operating in three speedboats, attempted to overpower the gallant officers in a gun duel. “Despite their numerical advantage, our officers put up a brave fight but sustained losses.”

“Regrettably, two officers, Inspector Sunday Usuyak and Inspector Edet Enenyi, sustained gunshot injuries and are receiving top-notch medical attention. One officer, Inspector Udi Emenyi, is currently unaccounted for.” She said that the Akwa Ibom Police Command had launched investigation, deploying a specialized search and rescue team to track and recover the missing officer. “The Nigerian Navy and other Security services have been duly informed and is collaborating with the Police for the operations”, she stated.

Just a few days ago, during the Easter period, precisely on good Friday, April 18, 2025, another boat conveying passengers were kidnapped on that same route which the Cross River State Police Command has confirmed the incident, noting that about 12 persons travelling from Calabar to Oron have been abducted by kidnappers along the Calabar waterways.

The State police spokesman, Irene Ugbo, confirmed the incident in a telephone chat with our Correspondent in Calabar on Friday, saying the abduction of 12 passengers occurred while the victims boarded a boat from Calabar in Cross River State to Oron in Akwa Ibom State. She said “Security has increased along the Calabar Waterways and the police and sister agencies, including the Navy, have come together to ensure safety and the command is working to ensure the speedy release of the 12 abducted passengers.”

A comedian, Odey Mathias, popularly known as General Odey, was among others abducted by pirates along the Cross River waterways. The wife of one of the victims (name withheld) told newsmen that the kidnappers had contacted her and demanded a N100m ransom. She, however, could not tell whether the N100m was for just her husband or for all the abductees.

It was disclosed that hours into the journey, the boat was overtaken by gunmen who forced the crew to stop and ordered all passengers out from the boat into their own boat and zoomed off to unknown destination.

The operations of pirates along the Oron-Calabar waterways have remained a threat to passengers’ travel and businesses between Akwa Ibom and Cross River.

Therefore, the public especially the people of Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, and Calabar, Cross River State are soliciting the Federal government’s intervention to deploy and station security agencies on the waterways to save the lives and properties of innocent citizens who travel for one purpose or the other and to instill in them the confidence that they will surely get to their destinations without despair.