Nigerian comedian and radio host, Odey Mathias, popularly known as General Odey, has recounted his harrowing experience after spending 50 days in captivity following his abduction by armed men along the Oron–Calabar waterways on Good Friday, April 18, 2025.
Odey was travelling with 19 other passengers aboard an Akwa-Cross Transport Company boat when gunmen, suspected to be sea pirates, intercepted the vessel and whisked them into the creeks.
The victims were held incommunicado for weeks while their families and security agencies struggled to secure their release.
The kidnappers initially demanded ₦100 million, later reducing the ransom to ₦80 million with a May 2 deadline.
While details of negotiations and his eventual release remain unclear, Odey confirmed that he regained freedom in June after spending 50 days in captivity.
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Describing the experience, the comedian called it “50 days of horror,” marked by fear, deprivation, and uncertainty over survival.
His account has renewed public concern over rising insecurity and the growing menace of kidnapping along Nigeria’s waterways.
Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, have pledged to intensify surveillance along high-risk routes, particularly highways and waterways in the South-South and South-East.
Yet families and advocacy groups continue to demand stronger enforcement, intelligence gathering, and community collaboration to stem the tide of abductions.
Odey’s case, which drew wide attention on social media during his captivity, has further highlighted the trauma faced by victims and their families.
For many Nigerians, it underscores the urgent need for government action to restore public confidence in safe travel across the country.