The Nigerian Senate has called for the immediate rescue of passengers abducted along the Calabar–Oron waterways, including candidates preparing for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), amid rising concerns over maritime insecurity.
The resolution was reached on Thursday during plenary in Abuja, following a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Senator Ekong Sampson.
The lawmakers directed security agencies to swiftly locate and rescue the victims, who were abducted by suspected sea pirates during a commercial boat journey from Calabar to Oron along the busy Niger Delta waterways.
According to reports presented before the Senate, the attackers heavily armed, intercepted the vessel mid-journey, took control of the boat, and forced passengers to unknown locations at gunpoint.
The Senate expressed deep concern that at least 15 of the abducted passengers were UTME candidates, raising fears about their safety and the disruption of their academic examinations.
The attack has triggered panic among families in coastal communities across Cross River State and Akwa Ibom State, where the victims are believed to have been travelling through.
As part of its resolution, the Senate mandated its Committees on Navy, Marine Transport, and National Security and Intelligence to investigate the recurring security breaches along inland waterways in the region.
It also urged the Chief of Naval Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, and other security agencies to intensify coordinated search-and-rescue operations to secure the release of the abducted passengers.
The upper chamber also directed the Nigerian Navy, Marine Police, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to increase surveillance and patrols across waterways and adjoining creeks, which have become increasingly vulnerable to piracy and kidnapping.
The lawmakers noted that the Calabar–Oron route remained a vital transport and economic corridor but has in recent times suffered repeated attacks, despite earlier assurances from security authorities.
In addition to the rescue operation, the Senate called on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to urgently review its examination logistics, particularly the posting of candidates to distant examination centres.
It stressed the need for reforms that would reduce long-distance travel for students and improve safety during nationwide examinations.
The resolution also referenced a recent attack on a Benue Links bus along the Makurdi–Otukpo route, where gunmen abducted passengers before security operatives later rescued most of the victims.
Following the incident, confusion had surrounded the identity of those affected until the Benue State Government confirmed that several of the abducted passengers were UTME candidates, prompting calls for rescheduling of their examinations.
The Senate reiterated its commitment to improving national security, particularly in transportation corridors increasingly targeted by criminal groups.
