The Nigerian Navy has rescued ten crew members from a distressed vessel, MV SEMA III, which was en route to Calabar from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on Friday, November 7, 2025.
According to a statement by Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, Director of Information, the rescue operation was executed by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) IBAKA following a distress call received around 2000 hours.
A naval gunboat equipped with a submersible pump was swiftly deployed. Upon arrival, the team found the vessel taking in water and immediately evacuated all ten occupants including one Cameroonian, one Equatorial Guinean, and eight Nigerians.
The rescued crew members were later received, debriefed, and provided with medical attention and shelter at FOB IBAKA until the following day, Saturday, November 8, 2025.
The Master of MV SEMA III expressed deep appreciation to the Nigerian Navy for its timely intervention and professionalism.
Commodore Adams-Aliu noted that the successful rescue highlighted the Navy’s renewed commitment under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal), to ensuring maritime safety, protection of critical assets, and the promotion of lawful economic activities within Nigeria’s waters.
