Navy Rescues 59 Crew Members From Sinking Vessel @ Okpobo River

In a daring operation, the Nigerian Navy successfully rescued 59 crew members from a sinking vessel near the Okpobo River, but the mission was marred by the loss of one of its own.

According to a statement by the Director of Information for the Nigerian Navy, Commodore Adams-Aliu, the incident occurred on July 30, 2024, when the Navy received an urgent distress call from the MV AMBIKA 4, a dredging vessel working at the Okpobo field under contract to Sterling Global Oil Limited.

It explained that the vessel was reported to be at risk of sinking near the entrance of the Okpobo River, an area notorious for its turbulent waters at this time of year.

In response, the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Bonny deployed a rescue team consisting of 10 armed personnel in two Interceptor Boats, led by the Base Operations Officer, Lieutenant Commander Gideon Yashim Gwaza, who tragically fell overboard during the operation and lost his life.

The Nigerian Navy expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Lieutenant Commander Gwaza, who bravely risked his life in service to his country, highlighting the dedication and sacrifice of the Navy personnel who work tirelessly to ensure the safety of Nigeria’s maritime domain.

PR/Aisha Adesanya