Eight Days Lost at Sea: Bayelsa Rescues São Tomé Fishermen, Diri Hands Them Over
What began as a frightening eight-day ordeal at sea has ended in relief and a renewed call for stronger maritime cooperation between Nigeria and the Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe.
Two São Tomé fishermen, Pedro Mateus and Isnaic Dafonseca, who drifted into Nigerian waters after encountering difficulties during a fishing expedition, have been safely handed over to their country’s diplomatic representative by Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri.
The fishermen were rescued by local fishermen around Agge community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State after spending about eight days at sea.
Their ordeal reportedly began after the battery powering their Global Positioning System (GPS) became depleted, leaving them unable to properly navigate their way home.
Rather than ending in tragedy, their journey brought them into Nigerian waters, where Bayelsa fishermen spotted them and came to their rescue.
Following information about the incident, Governor Diri directed that the two men be brought to Yenagoa and provided with medical attention at the Government House clinic.
After their recovery, Diri formally handed them over to the Chargé d’Affaires of the São Tomé and Príncipe Embassy, Ambassador Carlos Manuel Moreno, at the governor’s country home in Sampou.
The incident has now assumed wider diplomatic significance, highlighting the geographical and maritime connections between Bayelsa and the island nation across the Gulf of Guinea.
Diri said the rescue demonstrated how closely connected Bayelsa, Nigeria and São Tomé and Príncipe are through the Gulf of Guinea.
Significantly, this is not the first time fishermen from São Tomé and Príncipe have found themselves stranded in Bayelsa waters.
According to the governor, a similar incident occurred in July 2023 when fishermen from the country were rescued around Brass Local Government Area.
The repeated incidents have drawn attention to the need for greater maritime cooperation, particularly in navigation, emergency response, fishing activities and safety across the Gulf of Guinea.
For Bayelsa, the development also highlights the enormous economic opportunities presented by its extensive Atlantic coastline.
Diri noted that all three senatorial districts in the state have access to the Atlantic Ocean, making the marine and blue economy potentially important pillars of Bayelsa’s economic diversification.
Beyond economic opportunities, however, the latest rescue demonstrated the crucial role coastal communities and local fishermen can play as first responders during emergencies at sea.
The intervention by the Agge fishermen ensured that what could have become a maritime tragedy instead ended with the two São Tomé nationals returning safely to their country’s representatives.
Diri said the treatment given to the fishermen reflected Bayelsa’s commitment to humanity and regional solidarity irrespective of nationality.
Receiving the rescued men, Ambassador Moreno expressed appreciation to the Bayelsa State Government and the people of the state for their hospitality, medical care and intervention.
The rescue also took an unexpected personal turn for the diplomat, who disclosed that the two fishermen were his relatives.
Moreno said the incident demonstrated that the relationship between São Tomé and Príncipe and Nigeria extends beyond geographical proximity.
With both countries sharing strategic interests in the Gulf of Guinea, the episode could provide another opportunity to deepen cooperation in maritime security, fisheries, emergency response and the blue economy.
For Pedro Mateus and Isnaic Dafonseca, however, the diplomatic implications come after a much more personal experience — surviving eight uncertain days at sea before encountering the Bayelsa fishermen who brought them to safety.
Their eventual handover closes one chapter of the ordeal, but the incident has opened a broader conversation about maritime safety and cooperation among communities and countries sharing the Gulf of Guinea.
