🇳🇬 Nigerian Navy rescues passengers from sinking boat, deactivates illegal refinery sites across Niger Delta

 

In a coordinated show of operational efficiency and maritime vigilance, the Nigerian Navy has rescued 11 passengers from a sinking boat and simultaneously intensified anti-crude oil theft operations across the Niger Delta. 

 

Zig Diaries Defence

Date: Thursday, 6 November 2025 

Time: 14:40 WAT 

Location: 📍 Port Harcourt, Nigeria 

 

According to a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, the rescue took place on Tuesday, 4 November 2025, when personnel of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny saved 11 passengers, six males and five females, from a distressed speedboat along the Bonny River. 

 

The boat, which departed Nembe Waterside Jetty in Port Harcourt for Coal Beach Jetty in Bonny Island, suffered engine failure midstream and began taking in water near the Federal Ocean Terminal, Onne, Rivers State. 

The swift response of the FOB Bonny patrol team, despite heavy rainfall, prevented a major tragedy. All rescued passengers were safely taken to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Jetty for medical checks before being handed over to the Marine Police for reunification with their families. 

 

In a parallel operation on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, the Navy intensified its anti-crude oil theft drive, deactivating several illegal refining sites in Delta and Rivers States. 

 

At Obodo Omadino in Warri South-West, Delta State, personnel of FOB Escravos dismantled two illegal refining sites. The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER patrol team uncovered another site in the Bakana and Isaka general areas of Rivers State, containing cooking ovens, reservoirs, jerrycans, and dugout pits filled with stolen crude oil and illegally refined diesel. 

 

Similarly, FOB Bonny personnel deactivated an active refining site at Eyamba Community in Bonny Local Government Area, while NNS DELTA patrol teams shut down another at Opumani Creek in Warri South, Delta State. 

 

The Navy reaffirmed that these actions reflect its renewed determination under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal), to safeguard Nigeria’s maritime domain, protect critical infrastructure, and sustain the national campaign against crude oil theft. 

 

🏷️ Tags: Nigerian Navy, Maritime Security, Oil Theft, Niger Delta, Bonny River, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas 

#NigerianNavy #MaritimeSecurity #AntiOilTheft #RescueOps #NigerDelta #Nigeria #ZigDiariesDefence