Bayelsa Govt Hands Over 3 Rescued Fishermen from Sao Tome  To Mission In Nigeria

Sen. Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State, has officially handed over three fishermen  that were rescued in Bayelsa State, to the Head of Missions of Sao Tome and Principe in Nigeria, Pires Dos Santos Aguiar and his entourage, at the Governor’s Office,

Diri speaking, while officially handing over the three fishermen, at the Governor’s Office, Government House, Yenagoa, also commend officials of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA and local divers for their prompt responses .

The Governor who shower encomium on the local fishermen from their doggedness to safety of lives noting that the foreign fishermen were lost for a week in the Atlantic ocean

He said “First, I got the news of the rescue of these fishermen informally, before I now tried to use a formal government system and the security to confirm that we had two citizens of Sao Tome and Principe, who were rescued by some Bayelsa fishermen in Okpoma in Brass Local Government of the State, while one was rescued by the NIMASA.

“And so, I directed that the three of them be brought to Yenagoa, so that they can undergo health checks and probably contact the Sao Tome and Principe Government.

“Fortunately, the Sao Tome and Principe Government’s Head of Missions in their Embassy here in Nigeria made contacts with the Government of Bayelsa State, and he informed us that he was coming down to Yenagoa to receive the rescued fishermen.

“When they were found by our fishermen who had gone in search for one of their own who also went missing, there was a language barrier, because they speak Portuguese and we speak English, but they were quick to know that these ones were lost, and so they brought them safely to Bayelsa State, precisely at Okpoma, and handed them over to the security.

“And today, we have their Head of Mission who is here to ensure that they are safe, and they are returned to their country.

“I am really very proud of our fishermen who have exhibited their Ijawness, because the Ijaw man is very welcoming, accommodating, and is one who loves humanity.

“I thank them, and I also use this medium to thank the NIMASA also for the one they rescued and brought to us.

“Let me use this medium to appreciate the Government of Sao Tome and Principe for going after their citizens who went missing in the Atlantic Ocean for over one week trying to find their way, and the Gulf of Guinea drifted them to the Nigerian boundary.

“And so Nigeria formally through the Government of Bayelsa State is handing over your citizens to you,”he stressed.

Recall that the fishermen from Neves in SaôTome and Principe were lost in the Atlantic Ocean for five days before they were rescued in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The fishermen, who speak Portuguese, were said to have been rescued by a fishing trawler in the Gulf of Guinea and handed over to fishermen from Okpoama-Brass who took them ashore.

The fishermen have been handed over to the Divisional Police Officer, Okpoama Division of the Nigeria Police Force, CSP Ebimiesigha Bebetu.

Chairman, Okpoama Kingdom Security Committee, Chief Munalayefa William-Sinte, said the highly malnourished men were clothed and fed before they were handed over to the police for necessary actions.

He said the fishermen who were visibly worried were calmed with sign language before they were handed over to the police as language barrier made it impossible to communicate with them.

 

By Victor Kachi