Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has formally handed over two fishermen from São Tomé and Príncipe who were rescued after drifting into Nigerian waters.
The fishermen, Pedro Mateus and Isnaic Dafonseca, were handed over to Carlos Moreno, Chargé d’Affaires of the São Tomé and Príncipe Embassy in Nigeria, at Diri’s country home in Sampou, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The two men were rescued by residents of Agge in Ekeremor Local Government Area on August 28 after reportedly losing their way while fishing.
According to reports, the fishermen had spent about eight days at sea after their GPS battery became depleted, causing them to drift away from their home waters and eventually enter Nigerian territory.
The rescue effort began after local fishermen and residents discovered the stranded men and brought them to safety before they were subsequently handed over to the Bayelsa State Government.
Ekeremor Local Government Chairman Isaac Onniye played a role in the process by transferring the rescued fishermen to the state government for medical attention and recuperation before the official handover.
Diri expressed gratitude that the fishermen were found alive and commended the São Tomé and Príncipe diplomatic authorities for their prompt response throughout the process.
The governor said the incident demonstrated the close geographical and maritime relationship between Bayelsa and São Tomé and Príncipe, which are both connected by the Gulf of Guinea.
He noted that the latest rescue was the second occasion in recent years that Bayelsa authorities had rescued fishermen from São Tomé and Príncipe after they strayed into Nigerian waters.
Diri used the occasion to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to strengthening the relationship between Bayelsa State and the island nation.
He stressed that every individual deserves to be treated with dignity and equality regardless of nationality or social status.
The governor said the safe return of the fishermen should further strengthen the friendship between Nigeria, Bayelsa and São Tomé and Príncipe.
The incident also highlights the importance of stronger maritime cooperation among countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea, particularly in areas involving fishing activities, emergency response and the safety of people operating at sea.
The fishermen’s ordeal reportedly began when their navigation equipment became unusable, leaving them vulnerable to currents and difficult conditions while they were away from their home waters.
Their eventual discovery by residents of Agge underscores the role coastal communities can play in maritime rescue efforts, particularly when fishermen encounter emergencies far from established rescue facilities.
The development also provides another opportunity for Bayelsa and São Tomé and Príncipe to deepen cooperation beyond diplomatic relations, especially given their shared maritime environment and economic interests in the Gulf of Guinea.
Diri said the handover represented more than the return of two individuals, describing it as another demonstration of the bond between the people of Bayelsa and São Tomé and Príncipe.
The governor’s administration is expected to continue exploring areas of cooperation that can strengthen maritime security, economic engagement and people-to-people relations between the two sides.
For the rescued fishermen, the handover brings an end to an uncertain journey that began with a fishing expedition and ended thousands of nautical miles from the security of their home waters.
Their safe recovery also serves as a reminder of the risks faced by fishermen operating across the Gulf of Guinea, where navigation failures, weather conditions and strong currents can quickly turn routine fishing trips into emergencies.
As the fishermen return home, the incident has further reinforced the importance of regional cooperation and rapid humanitarian response in protecting lives across the Gulf of Guinea.