Navy Rescues Seven Victims of Bayelsa Boat Mishap, Uncovers 117,000 Litres of Stolen Crude Oil
Linus Aleke in Abuja The Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with local divers and members of the Abedigbene Fishing Community, has rescued seven passengers following a boat mishap in the waters
The Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with local divers and members of the Abedigbene Fishing Community, successfully rescued seven passengers during a boat mishap in the waters near Abedigbene, located in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. According to a statement from the Director of Naval Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the incident was triggered by a distress signal from a local fisherman.
The passenger boat, which was carrying eight people en route from Yenagoa to Akassa, was the subject of the rescue operation. Captain Folorunsho revealed that the rescued individuals included the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr Ebieri Jones, a member of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and five other passengers.
The survivors were taken to the houseboat, where they received immediate medical attention; preliminary evaluations showed that none of them sustained visible injuries. However, one passenger, a police officer, remains missing, and ongoing search and rescue efforts are underway to locate him. On the same day, November 6, 2026, the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny took action against three illegal refining sites in Awokiri Community, which is situated in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The naval spokesperson disclosed that the operation was initiated following credible intelligence that suggested the activation of new illegal refining sites in the area. The naval team discovered 16 trenches, of which nine were filled with approximately 115,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, while another storage tank held around 2,000 litres, resulting in a total volume of about 117,000 litres.
The remaining three pits were discovered to be empty. These sites were appropriately addressed in compliance with applicable regulations. Captain Folorunsho emphasized that the successful rescue operation further emphasized the significance of collaboration between security agencies and coastal communities in enhancing maritime safety and safeguarding lives.
Additionally, he highlighted the Nigerian Navy's unwavering commitment to combating crude oil theft and illegal bunkering through intelligence-led operations, aiming to protect vital oil and gas assets and secure the nation's economic interests.
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