By Reportcircle News
By early afternoon on Monday, December 22, 2025, the calm of the Calabar waterways was shattered by a mayday call crackling over naval radio channels.
Motor Vessel CHIMBA EXPRESS was on fire and lives were slipping into danger by the minute.
At about 1:00 p.m, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) OSE, conducting a routine patrol, picked up the distress signal from the stricken vessel.
What followed was a fast-moving, high-stakes rescue that underscored the Navy’s growing operational readiness in Nigeria’s maritime corridors.
As NNS OSE closed in on the scene, the scale of the emergency became clear.
Flames had engulfed parts of the vessel.
Some crew members, desperate to escape the heat and smoke, had leapt into the water.
Others were trapped on the exposed deck, clinging to survival as the fire raged.
Within minutes, a coordinated rescue effort swung into action.
Personnel from NNS OSE, Naval Security Station 030, and the Forward Operating Base IBAKA converged on the burning ship.
Working across sea and deck, the naval teams pulled men from the water, evacuated those stranded onboard, and stabilized the situation amid hazardous conditions.
By the end of the operation, 20 crew members had been rescued alive.
The Navy confirmed that 21 persons were onboard MV CHIMBA EXPRESS at the time of the incident.
One crew member the vessel’s Chief Engineer remains missing.
A search-and-locate operation is ongoing as naval units continue to comb the surrounding waters.
Beyond the immediate drama, the rescue stands as a pointed signal of the Navy’s evolving posture.
Officials say the success of the operation reflects the strategic vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal), whose leadership emphasizes a modern, agile, and professional naval force capable of rapid response across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
In a region where maritime incidents can quickly spiral into tragedy, Monday’s operation ended with lives saved and a reminder that preparedness, coordination, and speed remain the difference between disaster and survival on Nigeria’s waters.
