The Senate of Nigeria has called on security agencies to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of fifteen ferry passengers abducted by sea pirates along the Calabar–Oron waterways. Among the victims are several candidates scheduled to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
The Senate also urged the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board to establish more examination centres across states, citing the risks students face when travelling long distances to write their exams.
The resolution followed a motion moved by Ekong Sampson, who described how heavily armed pirates intercepted the boat mid-journey, seized control, and forced passengers to unknown destinations at gunpoint.
Sampson expressed concern over the growing insecurity in coastal communities, noting that the incident has heightened fear among residents and disrupted academic plans for affected students.
In its resolutions, the Senate strongly condemned the abduction and directed key security authorities—including the Chief of Naval Staff and the Inspector General of Police—to intensify rescue operations and ensure the safe return of all victims.
Lawmakers also mandated its Committees on Navy, Marine Transport, and National Security and Intelligence to investigate the increasing cases of maritime insecurity in the Niger Delta. The Senate further called for enhanced surveillance, patrol, and intelligence-gathering operations across the Calabar–Oron waterways and adjoining creeks.
The development underscores mounting concerns over safety in Nigeria’s waterways, particularly in regions where students and traders rely heavily on ferry transportation.