The Nigerian Navy, along with local divers and members of the Abedigbene Fishing Community, has successfully rescued seven passengers after a boat mishap occurred in the Abedigbene area of the Brass Local Government Area in Bayelsa State. According to a statement issued by the Director of Naval Information, a passenger boat transporting individuals from Yenagoa to Akassa encountered difficulties while at sea.
Reportedly, the boat had eight people on board when the incident took place. The survivors were promptly taken to a nearby houseboat for first aid, where preliminary checks indicated that they did not have visible injuries. Notably, one passenger, identified as a police officer, remains unaccounted for.
The operation began after a local fisherman alerted authorities to the distress situation, prompting personnel from Forward Operating Base (FOB) FORMOSO to mobilize rapidly to the scene and initiate search and rescue operations with the help of local divers and community volunteers.
Among those rescued was the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Trade, Industry, and Investment, including an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and five other passengers. On the day following the rescue, the Commissioner and the six survivors were transported back to Yenagoa to reunite with their families.
This incident underscores the commitment of the Nigerian Navy to ensure maritime safety and the importance of collaboration between security agencies and local coastal communities in responding to emergencies.
