Ruth NWORIE
Seven persons were rescued by men of the Nigerian Navy when two boats collided along the Ogboinbiri waterways in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The incident, which involved a Tantita patrol boat and a wooden market boat. The naval officers who responded to a distress call were quick to intervene and prevented what would have led to a fatal accident.
In a statement, Navy’s spokesperson, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho said its operative acted promptly and evacuated the victims, who were taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment. The statement added that efforts were however ongoing to locate those who may be missing.
The Navy said they were committed to safeguarding lives on Nigeria’s waterways in line with the vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbass, which prioritises both maritime security and humanitarian response.
It also highlighted a series of recent rescue efforts across the country. Earlier in March, naval personnel rescued 16 passengers during a sea robbery incident along the Ibaka–Calabar Channel. In December 2025, 20 crew members were saved from a burning vessel near Calabar, while 10 crew members were rescued from a distressed vessel in November 2025.
