The Nigerian Navy has saved 20 crew members from a ship, the Motor Vessel (MV) Chimba Express, that was completely on fire, after carrying out a quick and well-organized emergency response in the Calabar waterways.
The operation to save the individuals took place on Monday, December 22, 2025, following a distress signal that was received by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) OSE while it was conducting a regular maritime patrol.
On Tuesday, the Director of Naval Public Relations, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, confirmed the development, stating that the operation began around 1:00 p.m. when the naval patrol unit arrived in response to reports of a fire on the ship.
As he stated, when they arrived at the location, naval staff noticed that some crew members had leaped into the water to flee the fire, while others were stuck on the open deck of the ship.
He mentioned that a joint rescue operation, including staff from NNS OSE, Naval Security Station 030, and Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka, resulted in the safe recovery of 20 crew members.
Adams-Aliu revealed that 21 individuals were on board the ship during the incident, mentioning that search and rescue efforts were continuing to find the missing crew member, who was recognized as the Chief Engineer.
He pointed out that the successful operation highlighted the Nigerian Navy’s dedication to maritime safety and security, along with the strategic guidance provided by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.
He stated that the Chief of the Naval Staff’s objective continues to be centered on developing a contemporary, flexible, and skilled naval force able to efficiently protect Nigeria’s maritime area.
Ongoing initiatives are being made to identify the source of the fire.
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Tagged: Nigeria, Arms and Military Affairs, West Africa, Conflict, Peace and Security
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