By Augustine Ehikioya
Responding to distress call, the Nigerian Navy has once again proven its swift response capability and dedication to saving lives at sea.
It rescued ten crew members from a distressed vessel, MV SEMA III, which was enroute Calabar from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
This happened on Friday, 7 November 2025, and carried out by personnel of Forward Operating Base Ibaka.
A statement by Commodore Aiwuyor Augustine Adams-Aliu, Director of Naval Information, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA) reads “Acting on a distress call received around 20:00 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 comprising one Cameroonian, one Equatorial Guinean and eight Nigerians, who were later received, debriefed, and catered for at FOB Ibaka until Saturday 8 November, 2025.”
The Master of MV SEMA III, the statement said expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Nigerian Navy for its timely intervention and exceptional professionalism.
The successful rescue operation, it said, underscored the Nigerian Navy’s renewed efforts under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, to ensure maritime safety, protection of critical national assets, and promotion of lawful economic activities within Nigeria’s maritime domain.
