A Nigerian national has been confirmed dead following the sinking of a Nigerian tugboat, LEO, in South African waters on Saturday night.
The vessel, which had 18 people on board, reportedly went down after running aground amid rough weather conditions. While 12 crew members were rescued, five others remain missing as search and rescue efforts continue.
The Federal Government disclosed the incident in a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Magnus Eze.
According to the statement, South African transport authorities alerted Nigerian officials after the tugboat encountered difficulties approximately 18 nautical miles off the coast between Cape Town and Durban. The vessel was said to be en route to Lagos after undergoing repairs in South Africa when it ran aground under stormy conditions.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, confirmed that one fatality has been recorded, while five persons are still unaccounted for.
She further revealed that survivors are being transported to Port Elizabeth, where officials of the Nigerian High Commission are expected to receive them and provide necessary support.
The Federal Government said it is maintaining close contact with South African authorities as efforts intensify to locate the missing crew members. Maritime authorities are yet to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident, though severe weather has been cited as a contributing factor.
One dies, five missing as Nigerian tugboat sinks off South African coast
