Chaos in Delta Waters! Navy Boat Accident Claims 6 Lives, 3 Unaccounted For

Six individuals—including three Nigerian Navy personnel and three civilians—have been confirmed dead following the tragic capsizing of a Nigerian Navy gunboat in Delta State on Thursday evening.

The accident occurred shortly after the conclusion of the first day of a free medical outreach held in Okerenkoko, Warri South-West Local Government Area. The outreach was organized by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta in collaboration with the EMT Foundation as part of the Navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.

According to sources close to the operation, the ill-fated vessel, identified as EPENAL Gunboat DE 24, was carrying 15 passengers: nine naval personnel and six civilians, including three members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The boat was en route from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Escravos to a hotel in the Arunton community when it capsized around 7:45 p.m. near a Chevron Nigeria Limited facility, at coordinates LAT 05° 36.408’N / LONG 005° 11.982’E.

Twelve occupants were rescued by a swift response from the Navy’s search and rescue team and transported to Chevron’s clinic for emergency care. Tragically, six individuals were confirmed dead upon arrival by medical personnel.

The deceased have been identified as:

• Commander J.O. Eidangbe

• Petty Officer Abolarinwa

• Ordinary Seaman Tena

• Miss Chinenye and Miss Dorcas (both corps members)

• Master Destiny, the boat operator

Three people remain missing: Lieutenant D.K. Nehemiah, Sub-Lieutenant Kwala, and Miss Uche, another NYSC member. As of Friday, Navy divers were continuing recovery operations, though no official updates had been provided.

The Nigerian Navy has yet to release a formal statement on the incident. Nonetheless, the outreach programme continued on Friday in Okerenkoko, albeit under a subdued atmosphere as grief lingered over the tragic event.

Speaking during Thursday’s outreach, Commodore Abdulazeez Zubairu, Commander of NNS Delta—represented by Navy Captain Ayi Archibong—reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to fostering civil-military cooperation through humanitarian programmes.

“The Nigerian Navy is constitutionally mandated to safeguard the nation’s maritime domain. Part of fulfilling that duty involves Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) initiatives, designed to strengthen ties with the civilian population,” he noted.

The outreach, part of Operation Delta Sanity II launched by Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, offered free medical consultations, treatments, and health education to residents across riverine communities.

Despite the rain, residents from Okerenkoko and nearby villages turned out for the event. Pastor Christmas Ikare James, Assistant Secretary of the Okerenkoko community, praised the Navy’s efforts.

“We are sincerely grateful to the Nigerian Navy. In these challenging times when healthcare is largely inaccessible, this outreach is a lifeline for our people,” he said.

As the search continues, both the Navy and local communities are left mourning the lives lost in the unfortunate incident.