What should have been a simple journey to sit for an exam became a terrifying ordeal for dozens of passengers travelling along the Calabar waterways.
At least 20 people — including candidates heading for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination organised by Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board — were reportedly abducted by sea pirates after their ferry was ambushed at gunpoint.
The attack happened as the boat moved from Calabar to Oron, a route many students rely on while chasing opportunities for their future.
According to a naval source, the gunmen struck suddenly on the water, overpowering passengers and whisking many of them away — leaving behind fear, confusion, and unanswered questions.
For families, the worry is immediate and personal. Many of the victims were young students simply trying to reach their examination centres — a moment meant to shape their future now overshadowed by uncertainty.
A Wider Pattern of Fear
The incident is not isolated.
In Benue State, another group of travellers — including young people believed to be heading for exams — were recently abducted along the Makurdi–Otukpo road.
But unlike the Calabar victims, there was relief.
All 18 passengers taken during that attack were eventually rescued through a joint operation by security forces.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, while receiving the victims, expressed both relief and concern:
“On the whole, 18 persons were kidnapped… I am happy to hear that they have all returned safely.”
Still, the trauma lingers and questions remain about safety on major travel routes.
Dreams Interrupted
Across both incidents, one reality stands out:
Young people, on their way to build their future, are increasingly caught in the crossfire of insecurity.
For many of the abducted in Calabar, the journey was about hope — an exam, a chance, a step forward.
Now, families wait.
And for those rescued in Benue, relief comes with scars — and the memory of days spent in captivity instead of exam halls.
Final Thought
From waterways to highways, the message is becoming harder to ignore:
When students cannot safely travel to write exams, the crisis goes beyond security — it begins to threaten the future itself.