BAYELSA HANDS RESCUED SãO TOMé FISHERMEN BACK TO DIPLOMATIC ENVOY

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has formally reunited two fishermen from São Tomé and Príncipe with representatives of their country after they were rescued in Nigerian waters following about eight days at sea. The fishermen, identified as Pedro Mateus and Isnaic Dafonseca, were handed over to the Chargé d’Affaires of the São Tomé Embassy, Carlos Moreno, at the governor’s country home in Sampou. The fishermen had drifted into Bayelsa waters and were rescued by local fishermen at Agge in Ekeremor Local Government Area.

Diri described the incident as another indication of the close relationship between the people of Bayelsa and São Tomé and Príncipe, noting that both areas share the Gulf of Guinea and strong maritime connections. He said the latest rescue was the second known incident involving fishermen from the neighbouring island nation being found in Bayelsa waters, following a similar case in Brass Local Government Area in July 2023. According to the governor, the repeated incidents highlight the need for stronger cooperation in maritime safety and other areas involving the Gulf of Guinea.

The governor said that immediately after receiving information about the fishermen’s rescue, he directed that they be taken to Yenagoa, the state capital, where they received medical attention at the Government House clinic. Diri also commended the São Tomé and Príncipe government and its diplomatic representatives for their swift response throughout the process. He said Bayelsa’s treatment of the fishermen demonstrated the state’s commitment to protecting human life and promoting regional solidarity regardless of nationality.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Moreno expressed appreciation to Diri and the Bayelsa State Government for providing the fishermen with care, medical treatment and hospitality after their rescue. The envoy disclosed that investigations had revealed that the two fishermen were actually his relatives, making their safe recovery particularly significant to him and his government. He said the incident showed that the relationship between Nigeria and São Tomé and Príncipe extends beyond geographical proximity, describing the two countries as more than neighbours.

Moreno explained that the fishermen had drifted towards Bayelsa after the battery of their GPS device became depleted while they were fishing. Their eventual rescue by local fishermen brought an end to days of uncertainty over their whereabouts. Diri, meanwhile, used the occasion to highlight Bayelsa’s extensive maritime resources, noting that all three senatorial districts of the state have access to the Atlantic Ocean and that the state could further exploit its position for fishing, marine transportation, security and wider economic development within the blue economy.