By WHAT was billed to be a free humanitarian aid has turned sour, as a Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) DELTA gunboat conveying nine Naval personnel and six civilians from Forward Operations Base (FOB) Escravos capsized, who were in Okerenkoko for a free medical outreach, has capsized, drowning and killing six while three are still missing.
Naval personnel and members of Okerenkoko community on Thursday after the flag off of the free medical outreach. Photo: Stonix News
Three of the deceased included three serving personnel of the Nigeria Navy, two members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the boat driver.
The three missing included two serving officers of the Nigerian Navy and an NYSC member.
READ ALSO: https://stonixnews.com/medical-rhapsody-in-the-rain-navy-touches-lives-in-delta-creeks//
Stonix News was with the naval medical team from Warri Naval Base on Thursday morning to Okerenkoko for a two-day free health rhapsody.
Your darling medium gathered that at about 7:45p.m same day, the naval gunboat — EPENAL Gunboat DE 24 — capsized at position LAT 05° 36.408’N / LONG 005° 11.982’E, directly in front of Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL).
The vessel was reportedly conveying 15 people — nine serving Navy personnel and six civilians including NYSC members — from Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos to their hotel accommodation in Arunton community when it sank.
They were to prepare for Friday, the second day of the free medical outreach at Okerenkoko in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered that the Nigerian Navy’s swift search and rescue team recovered 12 bodies from the waters, who were rushed to the CNL clinic.
Unfortunately, six — three serving naval personnel and three civilians — were confirmed dead on arrival by the attending Chief Medical Officer on duty.
Th names of the dead, as gathered by Stonix News, are Commander JO Eidangbe, PO Abolarinwa and OS Tena.
Commander JO Eidangbe
The two NYSC members in the fateful mishap were simply identified as Miss Chinenye and Miss Dorcas. The third deceased civilian was identified as the boat driver, Master Destiny.
The three declared missing included Lieutenant DK Nehemiah, Sub-Lieutenant Kwala and Miss Uche, an NYSC member.
It was gathered that in spite of the tragedy on Thursday night which threw the naval and Okerenkoko communities into mourning, the free medical rhapsody still continued the following day.
One of the naval personnel attending to a patient earlier on Thursday before the tragedy.
Distraught Commander of the NNS, Delta, Commodore Abdulazeez Zubairu, has yet to issue an official statement on the tragedy, but sources said the entire Warri Naval Base is mourning the departed.
Stonix News had reported that the naval medical team had earlier, on Thursday, been received warmly at Okerenkoko community hall, Gbaramatu Kingdom, where the Commander of NNS Delta, Commodore Abdulazeez Zubairu (represented by Navy Captain Ayi Archibong, Executive Officer NNS Delta), had reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to national security and community engagement.
“The Nigerian Navy has the constitutional responsibility to ensure security across the country’s maritime environment. To fulfil this mandate, the Navy engages in Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) activities aimed at building strong and positive relationships with the public,” Commodore Zubairu had noted.
The free medical outreach — held in collaboration with EMT Foundation — was part of the Navy’s non-kinetic strategy under Operation Delta Sanity II, as directed by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla.
It aimed to deliver essential healthcare to remote communities in Delta’s creeks, many of whom are cut off from regular medical services.
“The Medical Rhapsody brings healthcare closer to our host communities, which are critical allies in combating insecurity,” Zubairu stated.
Scores of residents from Okerenkoko and surrounding communities turned up in the rain to benefit from the exercise, which offered check-ups, treatments, prescriptions, and health counselling — all free of charge.
Pastor Christmas Ikare James, Assistant Secretary of Okerenkoko community, had described the initiative as historic and timely.
“We’re deeply grateful to the Navy. At a time like this when basic healthcare is beyond the reach of many, this outreach means a lot to our people,” he said.
While the outreach was concluded on Friday in spite of the tragedy, the mood across the creek communities has turned sombre as the Navy and community mourn the loss of gallant officers and civilians who died in the line of service.
Stonix News will provide further details as rescue efforts are said to continue for the three missing persons.
What's your reaction?
