Nigerian Navy rescues 10 Crew Members from distressed vessel

The Nigerian Navy has successfully rescued 10 crew members from the vessel MV SEMA III, which was en route from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, to Calabar.

In a statement on Monday in Abuja, Commodore Ayiwuyor Adams-Aliu, Director of Naval Information, said the operation highlighted the navy’s swift response and commitment to saving lives at sea. The rescue was carried out on Friday by personnel from Forward Operating Base (FOB) IBAKA.

“Acting on a distress call received around 2000 hours, a naval gunboat equipped with a submersible pump was immediately deployed. On arrival, the team discovered the vessel taking in water and promptly evacuated all occupants, including one Cameroonian, one Equatorial Guinean, and eight Nigerians. They were later received, debriefed, and cared for at FOB IBAKA until Saturday,” Adams-Aliu stated.

He added that the Master of MV SEMA III expressed deep appreciation for the Nigerian Navy’s timely intervention and professionalism. The director emphasized that the successful operation reflects the navy’s ongoing efforts to enhance maritime safety, protect critical national assets, and promote lawful economic activities within Nigeria’s maritime domain.