The Nigerian Navy has laid to rest the Base Operations Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base in Bonny, Lieutenant Commander Gideon Gwaza, who lost his life during a rescue operation in Rivers State at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.
The operation led to the rescue of 59 people from a dredging vessel, MV AMBIKA 4, on the brink of sinking while operating at the Okpobo Field near the Okpobo River.
Gwaza lost his life in the operation on July 30, 2024, in an attempt to rescue the team comprising 10 Naval personnel and 49 others.
During the funeral ceremony, the commanding officer, Bonny, Captain M.A Mohammed, said Gwaza knew the operation was risky but braved the odds to rescue the victims.
He added that apart from the operation that claimed his life, Gwaza had displayed courage in several other risky operations.
Mohammed said, “After his passing, I’ve had cause to hear from two indigents in Bonny of how he rescued them from trouble in the dead of the night, single-handedly. I’ve also seen his courage displayed on numerous occasions. He tackled all his assigned tasks with the same vigour and selflessness.
“And it is these same attributes, I believe, that compelled him to go against all odds on that rescue mission, even though we knew it was very risky. I am probably the last person to have seen him before he left and to have spoken with him. Throughout the five months of my time, there was no single day I did not hear Gideon’s voice.
Up till this moment, I still hear it. He is a true hero and an asset, not just to the Navy but to the nation. His personality transcends him, even beyond the shores of this country.
We will miss him a great deal. The entire Bonny community already misses him,” he said.
Gwaza’s wife, Salome, said she was glad her husband died a hero.
She said, “We had nine years of deepest love, happiest marriage, and true partnership. GY, you were my inspiration. He was a man who loved his family deeply and worked so hard to provide and care for his family.
“He nurtured us all in the ways of the Lord. You were my number one role model. It’s hard for me to accept that you are no longer here. I wake up every day to see the cold space where you live. GY, I see you in everything I do. Thank you for loving me, making grand memories with us, and caring for the boys and me. You were very intelligent. You were selfless. You were dedicated and brave.
“You loved your job so well, and I’m glad you died as a hero. I will forever be proud of you. Your children will be proud of you. You were a true soldier who loved and cherished every moment spent together. I will love your children even more. I never thought you would leave this early.
“This was not the agreement. We planned to raise them together. Now that you’re no longer here, I pray God gives me the strength and all that I require to bring them up and that you’ll be proud of and watch us from heaven and smile.”
Salome promised to make her husband proud in death.
She said, “I pray God gives me the strength to make you proud, just like you have always believed in me. And I promise today, GY, that I will never disappoint you. Never.
“To a brave soldier, I was privileged to have as my husband. Fair winds and sailing seas, I love you. Even in death, I still love you. ”
Gwaza’s elder sister, Ishaku Matilda, said, “You were born great. You had your whole life ahead of you.
“You exuded greatness in everything that you did. From childhood, you were good at everything. You excelled at everything.
“I was so, so, so proud of you. I still am. I always will be.
“I can’t believe that you’re no longer here. But I guess the Almighty has his plans for you. And I trust in God’s plan for all of us.
“My encyclopedia, my guide, my sound detector. Who is going to correct my English now? When I told you about my new posting, he said, “Don’t worry, sis. Just go and dazzle them with your brilliance”.
“You’re always acting like you were older than me. I understand you were only protecting me. Even though you’re no longer here in the flesh, I always carry you in my heart and spirit.”
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, described Gwaza’s death as sad.
Ogalla offered scholarship to the three kids until university and accommodation for the wife in a Nigerian Navy Post-Service Housing Estate.
Ogalla said, “It is a very sad event to us, the Nigerian Navy family and the armed forces. We have all listened to the tributes told about the officer. From all that has been said, my enquiries, and his career records, I can only say that the officer was a born soldier.
“This was evident in the various assignments he performed while in the service and the various courses and training that he passed through in the service, where he always came out as number one. ”
Ogalla added that Gwaza died in the service, not only to the Nigerian Navy but in the service to humanity.
“Because the assignment he was given that day was to go and rescue a merchant vessel that was in distress and about to sink. I received a distress call from the company that a vessel was about to sink with 59 crew members on board.
“Out of those 59 persons on board, we had 10 Navy personnel. These 59 crew members were in danger of being perished. Lieutenant Commander Gwaza was detailed with a team of other patriotic ratings and officers to go and rescue these people.
“Unfortunately, and in line with the operating environment where we operate, where you cannot predict the nature of tide perfectly, you can also not predict so many other factors that occur at sea. He had an accident, and we lost him that day. It’s unfortunate,” he added.
Ogalla, however, promised Gwaza’s wife accommodation and to sponsor the children’s education up to the university.
He said, “We are making adequate arrangements to provide a befitting accommodation in one of our housing schemes for the family that he has left behind. As is customary in the Nigerian Navy and the Armed Forces of Nigeria, we will continue to take care of the education of all his children until they finish university. We have been performing this duty and will continue to do so.
“So I want to assure the family members, particularly the spouse, that you have a partner in the Nigerian Navy. Do not feel betrayed and do not be disillusioned. What has happened, has happened.”
