The Senate has directed security agencies to immediately rescue passengers abducted by suspected sea pirates along the Calabar–Oron waterways.
It also called for a comprehensive investigation into rising maritime insecurity in the Niger Delta.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent national importance moved by Senator Ekong Sampson, who drew attention to the hijacking of a commercial passenger boat travelling from Calabar to Oron.
Lawmakers expressed concern that at least 15 passengers were abducted, including prospective candidates for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), raising fears over their safety and academic future.
According to accounts presented during plenary, heavily armed pirates intercepted the vessel mid-journey, took control, and forced passengers to an unknown location at gunpoint. The attack triggered panic among families and heightened tension in coastal communities across Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.
In response, the Senate mandated its Committees on Navy, Marine Transport, and National Security and Intelligence to investigate 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 launch coordinated search-and-rescue operations to secure the victims’ release.
The chamber further called on the Nigerian Navy, Marine Police, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to intensify surveillance, patrols, and intelligence gathering across the waterways and adjoining creeks.
Lawmakers noted that the Calabar–Oron route remains a key economic and transport corridor but has become increasingly vulnerable to piracy, kidnapping, smuggling, and armed robbery despite previous security assurances.
The Senate also urged the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to review its examination logistics, particularly the deployment of candidates to distant centres, to reduce interstate travel and improve safety during examinations.
The call followed growing concerns over the risks faced by candidates required to travel long distances for the UTME amid persistent security challenges.
The directive also referenced the April 15 attack on a Benue Links bus travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo, where gunmen abducted 15 passengers.
Thirteen victims were later rescued, two escaped, and seven suspects were arrested, while the driver was detained for violating safety regulations.
Although JAMB and the police initially denied that the victims were UTME candidates, Governor Hyacinth Alia later confirmed that eight were exam candidates, prompting renewed calls for their examinations to be rescheduled.
