Friday February 13, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
A United States Marine of Nigerian descent, Chukwuemeka Oforah, has been confirmed dead after he fell overboard from the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima in the Caribbean Sea.
The 21-year-old Florida native and Lance Corporal infantry rifleman reportedly fell from the vessel on the evening of February 7, 2026, during routine operations and was declared missing at sea.
He was pronounced dead after a search operation concluded on February 10.
His death was announced on Wednesday and is still under investigation by the military, according to a BBC report on Thursday.
The news platform reports that Oforah’s death marks the first known American fatality in the President Donald Trump administration’s Operation Southern Spear, targeting drug-trafficking boats.
Oforah, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was deployed with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) as part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 2023 and graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in February 2024.
A statement from the U.S. Marines contained no details of how he may have fallen from the ship but expressed condolences to the victim’s family.
“We are all grieving alongside the Oforah family.
“The loss of Lance Cpl. Oforah is deeply felt across the entire Navy-Marine Corps team. He will be profoundly missed, and his dedicated service will not be forgotten,” said Col. Tom Trimble, commanding officer of the Marine Expeditionary Unit known as Special Operations Capable.
A news release from the military branch said the sprawling search for Oforah involved five ships and 10 aircraft.
Operation Southern Spear, launched under the Trump administration, targets drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.
Since September 2025, the operation has executed 38 lethal strikes on suspected drug boats.
According to BBC, it played a key role in the capture of Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro.
Oforah’s death is the first publicly acknowledged US service member fatality associated with this mission.