Lost São Tomé Fishermen Rescued In Nigeria After 5 Days Adrift At Sea

Two fishermen, Antonio Sabino and Osorio Pires, hailing from the town of Neves in São Tomé and Príncipe, were found and rescued after spending five harrowing days adrift in the Atlantic Ocean.

Their remarkable rescue took place in the Brass Council Area of Bayelsa State, located in the south-south region of Nigeria.

According to reports, a trawler operating in the Gulf of Guinea spotted the distressed fishermen and came to their aid. The trawler’s crew successfully rescued Antonio Sabino and Osorio Pires, who were then handed over to local fishermen from Okpoama-Brass.

The language barrier proved to be a challenge, as the fishermen spoke Portuguese, the official language of São Tomé and Príncipe. However, they were able to communicate using sign language, which helped alleviate their initial distress.

The fishermen were later transferred to the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Ebimiesigha Bebetu, of the Okpoama Division of the Nigeria Police Force.

Recognizing the dire condition of the rescued men, Chief Munalayefa William-Sinte, Chairman of the Okpoama Kingdom Security Committee, ensured that they were provided with clothing and nourishment before handing them over to the police for further assistance.

In a related development, Chief Sinte disclosed that a fisherman from Ilaje in Ondo State, who had been residing in Okpoama, had been reported missing for over a week. Fellow fishermen have been tirelessly searching the ocean in hopes of locating their missing colleague.

This recent incident of fishermen in distress recalls a tragic event from 2019 when the bodies of two fishermen, found in an advanced state of decomposition, washed ashore in Okpoama from São Tomé and Príncipe.

Confirming the successful rescue, SP Asinim Butswat, the state police spokesman, stated, “The police authorities have established contact with a coast guard officer from São Tomé and Príncipe and are making a concerted effort to reunite them with their family.”

São Tomé and Príncipe, an island nation located on the Equator in the Gulf of Guinea, consists of two main islands—São Tomé and Príncipe—and several smaller rocky islets. The country shares maritime boundaries with Gabon and Equatorial Guinea along the Atlantic coast of Central Africa, making it susceptible to maritime incidents.