By Makutu Manneh
The Gambia Navy rescued 60 suspected irregular migrants on Tuesday after intercepting a distressed boat off the coast of Bunyadu, the Gambia Armed Forces said.
In a statement, the military said naval personnel responded to a distress call at about 12:10 p.m., launching what it described as a swift rescue operation to protect those on board. All 60 occupants were safely brought ashore and transported to the Naval Command in Banjul.
According to the Gambia Armed Forces, those rescued included 55 Gambians, three Senegalese, one Guinean, and one Nigerian. The group comprised 41 men, 10 women, and nine minors.
Among those rescued was a heavily pregnant woman believed to be close to delivery. She was immediately transferred to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital for urgent medical care, while the remaining migrants are being processed in line with national laws and established humanitarian procedures, the military said.
The Gambia Navy said the operation underscores its commitment to protecting lives at sea, securing the country’s maritime domain, and working with national and international partners to combat irregular migration and other maritime security threats.
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