In a recent statement via his official X account, human rights lawyer and former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, has reacted to reports of pirates abducting students along the Calabar–Oron water route in southern Nigeria.
”Anyone who has done that ferry ride from Calabar to Oron would know that it was only a matter of time before pirates took control of matters on that route. It was both predictable and foreseeable. The news today that pirates have abducted 20 kids on that route on their way to #UTME is, sadly, not surprising. The one surprise is that it took this long to occur. The other will be if the politicians show that they care,” he wrote.
In his post, Odinkalu stated that anyone familiar with the ferry route between Calabar and Oron would have expected such an incident to happen and explained that the security situation along the route has long been fragile, making it vulnerable to criminal activity.
He noted that the abduction of about 20 students travelling to sit for the UTME is deeply troubling but not surprising and suggested that the real concern is that it took this long for such an incident to occur, given the known risks associated with the route.
He argued that the development reflects a failure to address obvious security threats in the area, he implied that authorities should have taken preventive measures earlier to protect passengers, especially young students travelling for important national examinations.
He added that the incident raises serious questions about the safety of waterways and the protection of civilians and stressed that such routes are commonly used by ordinary Nigerians who depend on them for daily movement.
He expressed concern about the response of political leaders and suggested that the real test will be whether those in authority show genuine concern and take decisive action to improve security……See More
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