YENAGOA — The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Ebieri Jones, alongside six other passengers, narrowly escaped death after their passenger boat capsized in Abedigbene waters within the Brass Local Government Area of the state.
The incident occurred on Thursday, November 5, when the boat carrying eight individuals was en route from the state capital, Yenagoa, to Akassa. A distress call raised by a local fisherman alerted personnel stationed at the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) FORMOSO Labrador Lagosgbene Houseboat, triggering a swift emergency response.
Naval operatives, working in close coordination with local divers and members of the Abedigbene fishing community, immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation in the riverine terrain. Their joint intervention led to the successful rescue of seven survivors, including Dr. Jones, an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and five other passengers.
Upon being brought to safety at the naval houseboat, the rescued individuals received immediate medical first aid. Preliminary medical evaluations confirmed that none of the seven survivors sustained visible physical injuries during the mishap. Following their stabilization, naval authorities transported the commissioner and the six other survivors to Yenagoa, where they were safely reunited with their respective families.
Despite the successful rescue of the seven individuals, an eighth passenger—identified as a police officer attached to the team—remains missing. Search-and-rescue operations conducted by naval units and local divers are actively continuing along the Abedigbene waterways to locate the missing officer.
Confirming the operation, the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, underscored the Navy’s commitment to maritime safety and prompt emergency response across coastal communities. Meanwhile, the Commanding Officer of FOB FORMOSO, Captain Sunday Haruna, commended the naval personnel for their professionalism while expressing gratitude to the Abedigbene community for their vital support during the rescue effort.
