Cross River state government on Wednesday, said it plans to register all boats and vessels operating in the state to curb kidnappings on the waterways.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Director General of the State Waterways Agency, Bobby Ekpenyong in Calabar.
Recall that the state in recent times has witnessed an increased rate in kidnapping especially in Calabar with the perpetrators using the waterways as an escape route to the creeks.
Ekpenyong said that the operators would be licensed at the end of the registration which will commence on Dec. 1. He added that the registration became necessary following increased kidnappings and other crimes on waterways in the state.
He said, “Gov. Ben Ayade is worried about the incessant kidnappings and illegal activities going on in the state’s waterways.
“He has directed that necessary measures be put in place to arrest the ugly trend.
“I want to use this opportunity to warn all operators of wooden boats, fibre engine boats and vessels, that any unregistered boat or vessel operating in the state will be impounded as from Jan. 1.”
