A fatal boat mishap involving a Nigerian Navy gunboat has claimed the lives of six individuals, including two members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), three naval personnel, and one civilian.
The incident occurred on Thursday evening along the Escravos waterway in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
As of the time of filing this report, three others — two naval personnel and a corps member — remain missing, while search and rescue operations are ongoing.
The tragedy struck just hours after the Nigerian Navy had conducted a medical outreach in Okerenkoko, a riverine community in the same local government area.
Many of the victims were said to have participated in the outreach earlier in the day.
According to a naval signal and official sources, the affected vessel — a Navy gunboat identified as NNS Delta Epenal DE 24 — was carrying 15 occupants, including nine naval personnel and six civilians.
The boat was traveling from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Escravos to Arunton community, where the passengers were lodged, when it capsized around 7:00 p.m. near a Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) facility.
The Navy confirmed that the vessel capsized at a point marked as POS LAR 05, 36.408 N, directly in front of the Chevron facility.
A Navy-led search and rescue operation succeeded in rescuing 12 individuals — seven naval personnel and five civilians — who were immediately transported to the CNL medical facility for treatment. Sadly, six others were confirmed dead by the attending Chief Medical Officer.
The cause of the mishap has not yet been determined, prompting speculation among observers.
Security analysts suggest the boat may have collided with a submerged object, especially since reports indicate it was not overloaded.
“It’s highly unusual for a Navy gunboat to capsize under normal circumstances,” one security expert commented anonymously. “This raises questions about possible mechanical failure or hidden underwater hazards. A thorough investigation is critical.”
The incident has sparked widespread concern across Delta State and beyond, with calls for a transparent investigation and urgent review of naval safety procedures, particularly for operations in riverine communities.
Efforts to recover the three missing persons are still underway as of the time of this report.