The Nigerian Navy has rescued seven persons following a boat collision in the Ogboinbiri waterways of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
According to Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain AA Folorunsho, the incident, which involved a Tantita patrol boat and a wooden market vessel, prompted an immediate search and rescue operation after a distress call was received. Personnel of NNS Soroh were swiftly deployed to the scene, where they successfully evacuated the victims and transported them to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment. Efforts are ongoing to locate other missing persons.
The operation reflects the Navy’s continued commitment to maritime safety and humanitarian response under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Idi Abbas. The service reiterated its focus on protecting lives within Nigeria’s maritime domain alongside its core security responsibilities.
The Navy highlighted a series of recent successful rescue missions, 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, and 10 crew members from a distressed vessel in November 2025. It also recalled the rescue of 17 kidnapped victims in Calabar waterways in October 2025.
These interventions, the Navy noted, underscore its role as a responsive and people-focused maritime force. It assured the public of its readiness to continue deploying assets and personnel for timely response to emergencies in line with global best practices.
