Cross River govt dismisses police claim on alleged kidnap of 15 boat passengers

Cross River State Government has dismissed claims by the constabulary implicit the alleged abduction of 15 passengers, including JAMB candidates, on the Calabar–Oron waterway.

The passengers were reportedly kidnapped aboard a Sea Express vessel connected Friday, April 17, 2026, prompting statements from the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Zone 6), Auwal Mohammed, and the Cross River and Akwa Ibom State Commands, which confirmed the incidental and ordered a hunt and rescue operation.

However, astir 72 hours later, the authorities authorities described the study arsenic false, insisting that nary specified incidental occurred connected the authoritative Calabar–Oron route.

In a connection issued by the Department of Marine Services and signed by Ededem Effiwatt, the Special Adviser to the Governor connected Marine Services, Capt. Otu Ita Otu, said the alleged incidental did not instrumentality spot wrong the state’s regulated waterway.

“We privation to authorities unequivocally that nary specified incidental occurred connected the authoritative Calabar–Oron waterway, which is nether the jurisdiction and surveillance of the Cross River State Government,” the connection said.

According to the government, preliminary findings showed that though ...