By: Zagazola Makama
In a chilling act of maritime terror, sea pirates on April 18, 2025, hijacked a commercial speedboat and abducted 20 passengers along the Calabar waterways near Akwa Ibom State, throwing coastal communities into panic and reigniting fears over security in Nigeria’s southern maritime corridor.
The ill-fated boat, identified as Devinewill, was en route to Oron when it was ambushed by heavily armed men. According to sources who spoke to Zagazola Makama, the attackers swiftly overpowered the crew, herded the terrified passengers onto their own vessels, and disappeared into the maze of creeks and mangroves that line the region.
A beach worker at Oron confirmed the incident, revealing that a naval patrol team from Calabar responded quickly upon receiving a distress alert. However, by the time they arrived at the scene, the pirates had already vanished with the hostages. The hijacked Devinewill boat was later discovered abandoned and empty, drifting off the coastline.
Naval authorities have launched a full-scale manhunt for the kidnappers and are working with local security networks and intelligence units to track the movement of the assailants and ensure the safe return of the captives.
“This is a brazen attack that threatens the safety of our waterways,” said a security source familiar with the investigation. “We are leaving no stone unturned to rescue the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
This latest abduction underscores the escalating threat posed by maritime crime in Nigeria’s coastal regions, where pirates have increasingly targeted commercial vessels, fishing boats, and passenger ferries in search of ransom and plunder.
As families anxiously await news of their loved ones, calls have intensified for the federal government to reinforce naval operations and deploy modern surveillance technology across high-risk waterways.
Will you like me to add quotes from victims’ relatives, security experts, or local officials to make the piece even more gripping?
PIONEER NEWS 