News Update
17 Passengers Freed After 12 Days in Calabar–Oron Waterway Kidnap Horror
It was supposed to be an ordinary boat ride across the calm waters of the Calabar–Oron route, a journey many Nigerians take daily to avoid the pothole-ridden East–West Road. But by the end of that trip, 17 passengers disappeared, seized by pirates who turned a public waterway into a nightmare corridor of fear.
Also Read: Signs of Flooded Cars: How to Identify Water Damage
For twelve long days, families waited in silence. Phones rang unanswered. The sea swallowed voices and hope alike.
The Attack That Stunned the South-South
According to eyewitnesses, the Sea Express commercial boat left the Calabar terminal around noon. Halfway into the trip, near the creeks of Akpabuyo, armed men on two speedboats intercepted them.
“They fired in the air, shouting for everyone to lie down,” recalled a survivor still too shaken to be named. “They forced us into another boat and sped into the mangroves.”
From that moment, seventeen lives vanished into the maze of Cross River’s creeks, held hostage by pirates reportedly demanding huge ransoms from families.
The Silent Hunt for the Missing
Behind the scenes, the Nigerian Navy, backed by the Department of State Services (DSS) and local vigilantes, began a painstaking manhunt.
A senior officer from NNS Victory, Calabar, who spoke under anonymity, confirmed that naval patrols combed over 30 nautical miles of swamp and waterway terrain, cutting off food and fuel supplies to the kidnappers’ camps.
“The pirates were cornered. With no way out, they had to surrender the hostages,” the officer said.
Late Monday evening, October 6, 2025, the Navy announced the successful rescue of all 17 passengers, alive and without ransom payment. They were transported to the Naval Reference Hospital, Calabar, for medical and psychological evaluation.
Families Who Waited And Prayed
For relatives of the victims, it was nearly two weeks of sleepless nights.
One mother, Mrs. Alice Etim, whose son was among those abducted, told RoadKing.ng:
“Every day, I sat by the waterside, hoping to see the boat return. I didn’t sleep. When they said the Navy rescued them, I collapsed crying.”
Many of the rescued are artisans, traders, and students who depend on water transport because of the poor condition of the East–West Road, which connects Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross River States.
When Land Fails, Water Becomes the Only Road
The Calabar-Oron waterway has become the South-South’s alternative highway, faster, cheaper, but increasingly unsafe.
With the East–West Road now almost impassable due to flooding, erosion, and neglect, thousands rely on ferries daily.
But security experts warn: “When government abandons roads, criminals take over rivers.”
Since January 2025, RoadKing.ng records show over 12 reported attacks on boats across Cross River and Akwa Ibom waters, many involving ransom abductions.
What the Navy and Government Are Saying
The Commander of NNS Victory, Commodore James Odili, confirmed that joint intelligence and local cooperation made the rescue possible.
“We did not storm their camp blindly. We used intelligence and surveillance. The abductors were forced to free the passengers because they had nowhere to run.”
The Cross River State Government has called for permanent naval presence across major jetties and pledged to invest in secure docking terminals for safer passenger loading.
But transport analysts argue that unless the federal government fixes the roads, Nigerians will keep risking their lives on dangerous waterways.
RoadKing.ng Investigation Insight
- Neglected road infrastructure drives Nigerians to unsafe transport alternatives.
- Waterway security patrols remain grossly inadequate, often only one naval craft per zone.
- Boat operators lack proper passenger manifests and safety protocols.
- Absence of coastal surveillance radar leaves Nigeria’s inland waterways exposed.
Until these issues are addressed, both roads and rivers will remain death corridors for the common traveler.
The RoadKing Verdict
The rescue is commendable. But it shouldn’t take 12 days, 17 families, and national panic to remind the government that transportation safety isn’t about building roads, it’s about protecting people who use them.
In a bold move to reshape the state’s transport future, the Lagos State Government has launched a comprehensive citywide transport perception survey, targeting public feedback across road, rail, and water transport systems.
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The initiative, announced by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) on Tuesday, seeks to bridge the gap between policy planning and the lived experiences of commuters.
According to LAMATA’s Managing Director, Engr. Abimbola Akinajo, the survey is part of the state’s broader mobility reform strategy aimed at understanding how residents perceive existing transport infrastructure, services, and safety. “Our goal is to make Lagos a model for efficient, inclusive, and sustainable mobility in Africa. We can only achieve this if we listen to the people who use these systems every day,” she said.
How the Survey Works
The transport perception survey will collect data from road users across all 20 Local Government Areas, focusing on:
- Commuter satisfaction levels on major routes and transport modes.
- Travel time and safety experiences across BRT corridors, ferry terminals, and railway stations.
- Accessibility issues faced by people with disabilities and low-income groups.
- Perceptions of enforcement, driver behavior, and fare fairness.
Participants can complete the survey through LAMATA’s online portal or physical questionnaires distributed at key transit points including Oshodi, Mile 2, Marina, and Ojota.
A Step Toward Smarter Transport Governance
Lagos currently accounts for over 40% of Nigeria’s vehicle traffic, with more than 6 million daily trips by road alone. The state’s growing congestion problem has made strategic transport planning a necessity. Experts say the perception survey will provide real-time insights into the impact of ongoing infrastructure projects like the Blue Line Rail, Red Line Rail, and the Lekki-Epe Expressway expansion.
According to urban mobility analyst Tunde Adeyemi, “The survey is not just about complaints, it’s data-driven governance. For too long, transport planning in Nigeria has been top-down. This initiative flips the model to bottom-up, ensuring the real challenges of drivers and passengers inform future decisions.”
Public Reaction
Many commuters welcomed the move, saying it’s long overdue. A commercial driver along Ikorodu Road, Sunday Ajayi, told RoadKing.ng, “If they want to fix transport, they should listen to us who spend all day on the road. The bad traffic, potholes, and touts are our reality. If this survey is real, it’s a good thing.”
However, others expressed skepticism about implementation. “We have filled forms like this before, but nothing changes. We need action, not data,” said Ngozi Eze, a daily commuter from Surulere to CMS.
Government’s Next Steps
LAMATA confirmed that all findings from the survey will be publicly shared in the 2025 Lagos Transport Report, expected to guide future budget allocations for road repairs, mass transit expansion, and safety enforcement. The government says the report will also influence the Lagos Mobility Master Plan, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
Landmark Ruling Eases Tension Between Motorists and Law Enforcement
In a landmark decision that will reshape the relationship between motorists and law enforcement in Nigeria, a Federal High Court has barred the Nigeria Police Force from enforcing the long-disputed tinted glass regulation.
Also Read: Police Crackdown on Tinted Vehicle Glasses in Abuja
The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, October 2, 2025, follows years of public complaints and heated confrontations between drivers and police officers over tinted vehicle permits. For many Nigerians, particularly commercial drivers and private car owners, the regulation had become synonymous with extortion, harassment, and prolonged legal confusion.
The Court’s Decision
The court held that the enforcement of tinted glass permits lacked proper legal backing under the current framework, describing police actions as “arbitrary” and “unconstitutional.” Justice S. A. Odugu, who presided over the case, ruled that no citizen should be subjected to harassment or intimidation on Nigerian roads under the guise of tinted glass enforcement until proper legislative clarity is established.
Motorists’ Reactions
The judgment sparked jubilation among motorists across major cities. In Lagos, commercial transport operators at Oshodi expressed relief, with one bus driver, Kunle Adeyemi, saying:
“Everyday na fight with police because of tinted glass permit wey nobody fit explain. Today, the court don free us from wahala.”
Private car owners in Abuja also welcomed the development, describing it as a victory for citizens who had long suffered at the hands of what they termed “roadside extortion.”
Police and FRSC Silent
As of press time, the Nigeria Police Force had yet to issue an official statement on whether it would appeal the ruling or comply immediately. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), which also partners in traffic enforcement, has maintained silence on the matter, though road users are demanding swift compliance.
Road Safety Experts Caution Drivers
While many celebrated the ruling, road safety experts urged motorists not to abuse the development. Engr. Tunde Bakare, a road traffic analyst, said:
“Yes, the court has barred police enforcement, but that does not mean drivers should turn their cars into blacked-out moving hazards. Safety comes first, visibility matters for accident prevention.”
Broader Implications
This ruling marks one of the few times the Nigerian judiciary has directly intervened in a policy affecting millions of motorists nationwide. It may also set a precedent for challenging other controversial road regulations.
However, observers warn that the judgment could create a temporary vacuum in road safety checks, especially in regions prone to criminal activity where tinted vehicles have been linked to kidnappings and robberies.
For now, Nigerian drivers can heave a sigh of relief, but the debate over balancing road safety with citizens’ rights is far from over.
In the early hours of Tuesday, a routine river crossing turned fatal. In Ibaji, Kogi State, a passenger boat carrying traders heading to a market in Edo State capsized on the Niger River, claiming at least 26 lives.
Also Read: Boat Capsizes in Niger State Market Journey, At Least 25 Dead Amid Rescue Delays
The scene was one of utter panic, survivors scrambling, others disappearing into the murky depths, and families left waiting for answers.
Officials say the cause of the accident is still under investigation. Meanwhile, rescue teams and divers have been deployed to search for additional bodies amid rising fears that the confirmed figure may be a lower bound.
The majority of the passengers were traders, travelling across the state boundary to Edo State’s markets. Many likely carried goods, produce, or wares to sell, making the crossing an economic necessity, not choice.
In Nigeria, river transport, especially along the Niger and Benue rivers is common in regions with weak road connectivity. But the system is also dangerously underregulated.
Waterways Under Strain: Overload, Maintenance Lags, Safety Gaps
This tragedy is not an anomaly. Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season, records boat accidents caused by:
- Overloaded vessels
- Poor or nonexistent safety equipment (life jackets, guardrails)
- Weak oversight and poor vessel maintenance
- Hidden underwater hazards (submerged logs, debris)
Officials often patch responses after disaster, rather than enforcing preventive safety regulation.
Local government sources confirm that the Kogi State government is partnering with federal agencies to conduct deeper investigations and begin remediation of waterway safety.
Rivers as Transport Corridors & Risk Zones
While RoadKing.ng focuses primarily on road transport, we cannot ignore how Nigeria’s waterways intersect with highway safety and logistics:
- Shifting Load Pressures: When roads are impassable or unsafe, traders and commuters lean on waterways more, making safe boat transport even more critical.
- Logistics Chain Breaks: Goods delayed or lost upstream can impact road haulage downstream, causing economic ripple effects.
- Rescue & Alternative Routes: During river accidents, roads might be called into service for relief & diversion, especially in flood-prone regions.
Officials, community leaders, and survivors expressed grief and frustration.
Kogi’s Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, described the loss as “heartbreaking” and pledged full collaboration with federal authorities to prevent another such tragedy.
Local community members lamented what many see as a preventable loss noting that boats routinely carry more passengers and cargo than their capacity, without necessary safety enforcement.
RoadKing Analysis: Water Transport Safety Needs a Reckoning
This is not just a river tragedy, it is a stark reminder that Nigeria’s transport safety challenges extend beyond highways. The water transport system remains an often-neglected dimension of the national infrastructure puzzle.
To prevent recurrences, the following must be prioritized:
- Inspection & certification of vessels before any crossing
- Mandatory safety equipment (life vests, lighting, guard rails)
- Strict load limits & enforcement
- Training & licensing for boat operators
- Unified oversight structure to monitor inland water transport
