The Nigerian Navy has said it has rescued seven persons after a swift search and rescue operation following a boat collision at the Ogboinbiri waterways in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The search and rescue effort was initiated following a distress call on an incident involving a Tantita patrol boat and a wooden market boat. Personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship NNS SOROH were immediately deployed to the scene, where their timely response led to the rescue of the victims, who were promptly evacuated to a nearby medical facility for urgent medical attention. Efforts are ongoing to locate other missing persons.
A statement from the Navy Headquarters, signed by Navy CaptainAA Folorunsho, says the response underscores the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to the vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, which prioritises not only maritime security but also the protection of lives within Nigeria’s maritime environment. The operation further reinforces the Service’s consistent record in search and rescue missions across the nation’s waterways, including the rescue of 16 passengers during a sea robbery incident in the Ibaka–Calabar Channel in March 2026, 20 crew members from a burning vessel near Calabar in December 2025, 10 crew members from a distressed vessel in Calabar waters in November 2025, as well as the rescue of 17 kidnapped victims in Calabar waterways in October 2025. “These efforts highlight the Nigerian Navy’s enduring role as a responsive and people-oriented maritime force”, it said, while assuring the public of its readiness to continue deploying assets and personnel for timely response to maritime emergencies in line with global best practices.