Calabar, Cross River State. (Nigeria): Seventeen passengers kidnapped along the Calabar-Oron waterway have regained their freedom after 12 harrowing days in captivity.
Acting on intelligence, the Nigerian Navy blocked escape routes and rescued the victims without ransom or confrontation.
The Naval officer said that the 17 victims were rescued from the creeks on Monday without payment of ransom.
He said that the victims were successfully rescued by the Nigerian Navy following an intelligence report.
According to him, the Navy swung into action and blocked the only entrance to the creek, thereby preventing the kidnappers from taking their victims to another location.
“The kidnappers who had run out of food by this time had no choice but to let go of their victims.
“We were careful not to engage them in order not to jeopardise the safety of the victims.
“As I speak, the victims are presently at the Naval Reference Hospital in Calabar, while we are after the kidnappers.”
The source assured that the Calabar water remained safe for the movement of goods and services.
The victims were travelling from Calabar to Oron in Akwa Ibom state when their ferry was hijacked and the passengers taken away by the gunmen.
Some passengers, including the Akwa Ibom Police Command spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, were with the 17 victims but were not abducted due to a lack of space in the kidnappers’ boat.
The abductees, now receiving care at the Naval Reference Hospital in Calabar, were freed after their captors—stranded and out of supplies—had no choice but to release them.
