No group has claimed responsibility for the attack at the time of this report. Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
By TheInvestigator
In a shocking incident that has sent ripples of fear through coastal communities, suspected militants intercepted a commercial passenger boat along the Nsidung Beach route to Ibaka on Friday, January 16, 2026, resulting in the death of a well-known businesswoman from Calabar South and the abduction of more than 20 passengers.
The victims, mostly traders who regularly ply the waterway between Calabar and Ibaka for business, were attacked in the waters near the Nigeria-Cameroon border area. Eyewitness accounts describe a sudden and violent operation by armed militants who boarded the boat, opened fire, and forcibly took control.
Among those killed was “Eka Mma-Ba”, a prominent and respected businesswoman based in Calabar South. She resided on Ekeng Ita Street and was widely known in local markets for her entrepreneurial activities. Sources say she was fatally shot during the chaos of the attack. At the same time, the assailants abducted the surviving passengers and took them to an unknown location, reportedly deeper into the creeks or across the border.
The boat was carrying traders travelling for their usual cross-border commerce, a common journey along the busy Calabar-Ibaka maritime route that links Nigeria and Cameroon.
This latest violence comes amid ongoing security concerns in the region’s waterways, where militant groups and sea pirates have historically targeted boats for ransom kidnappings.
While authorities recently celebrated a breakthrough with the surrender of over 80 militants in Akpabuyo and Calabar creeks on the same day (January 16), the incident highlights the persistent threat to civilian movement and trade in the area.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack at the time of this report. Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.