Maritime Security and Safety
Navy Rescues Seven in Bayelsa Boat Collision, Vows Sustained Maritime Response
Navy Rescues Seven in Bayelsa Boat Collision, Vows Sustained Maritime Response
By Okeoghene Onoriobe, Waterways News Correspondent, Lagos
Seven persons have been rescued by the Nigerian Navy following a collision between a Tantita patrol boat and a wooden market boat on the Ogboinbiri waterways in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in an official statement issued on Monday in Abuja, confirming that a swift search and rescue operation was launched immediately after a distress call was received on the incident.
Personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH were promptly deployed to the scene and successfully pulled the victims to safety. The rescued persons were evacuated to a nearby medical facility for urgent attention, even as search efforts continue for other persons still reported missing.
Folorunsho said the operation reaffirmed the Navy’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives across Nigeria’s maritime environment, adding that it aligns with the broader vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, which places maritime security and human safety at its core.
The Navy’s intervention in Bayelsa is the latest in a string of rescue operations it has executed across the nation’s waterways in recent months. In March, naval personnel rescued 16 passengers during a sea robbery attack along the Ibaka–Calabar Channel. Before that, 20 crew members were pulled from a burning vessel near Calabar in December 2025, and 10 crew members were saved from a distressed vessel in November 2025. October 2025 also saw the rescue of 17 kidnapped victims from the Calabar waterways.
The Navy has assured the public of its readiness to maintain rapid response to all maritime emergencies, in line with global best practices.
Waterways News — Nigeria’s Voice on the Water