One Nigerian has been confirmed dead following the sinking of a Nigerian tugboat, LEO, in South African waters on Saturday night.
The vessel, which had 18 persons on board, reportedly went down after running aground in rough weather conditions. Twelve crew members were rescued, while five others remain missing as search and rescue operations continue.
The Federal Government disclosed the development in a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
According to the statement, South African transport authorities notified Nigerian officials after the tugboat encountered difficulties about 18 nautical miles off the coast between Cape Town and Durban. The vessel was said to be heading to Lagos after undergoing repairs in South Africa when it ran aground amid stormy conditions.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, confirmed the fatality and said five crew members are still unaccounted for.
She added that the rescued crew members are being transported to Port Elizabeth, where officials of the Nigerian High Commission are expected to receive them and provide necessary assistance.
The Federal Government said it remains in close contact with South African authorities as efforts intensify to locate the missing crew members. Maritime officials are yet to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident, though adverse weather conditions have been identified as a major factor.
