The Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny has rescued 11 passengers from a sinking speedboat along the Bonny River in Rivers State.
The rescue operation took place around 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, near the Federal Ocean Terminal, Onne. According to Lieutenant Commander Sirajo Almustapha, the Base Operations Officer, the outboard engine-powered boat suffered an engine malfunction that allowed water to enter the vessel, a situation worsened by overloading.
While on routine escort duty in the Onne area, naval personnel from FOB Bonny noticed the distressed boat taking in water. “The boat had 21 passengers on board at the time of the incident,” Almustapha explained. The vessel had reportedly departed Nembe Waterside Jetty, Port Harcourt, at 12:50 p.m., en route to Coal Beach Jetty in Bonny Island when the malfunction occurred.
To stabilize the situation, naval personnel rescued 11 passengers — six men and five women — to reduce the boat’s weight while the crew worked to repair the engine.
The rescued individuals were later debriefed at FOB Bonny before being handed over to a Marine Police representative, Assistant Superintendent of Police Friday Nyeche, around 4:40 p.m., to reunite with their families.
Almustapha added that the boat’s engine was successfully repaired by 3:58 p.m., allowing the driver and the remaining 10 passengers to continue their journey safely to Bonny Island.
He emphasized that FOB Bonny remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of waterways within its jurisdiction to promote lawful economic and commercial activities.
“The base will continue to conduct routine patrols, anti-crude oil theft, anti-illegal bunkering, anti-kidnapping, and search and rescue operations,” Almustapha said, noting that these efforts align with the operational directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal).
He concluded that such patrols are vital for protecting critical national infrastructure and securing commercial routes in the region.
