A young United States Marine of Nigerian heritage has been declared dead after falling overboard from a US Navy vessel in the Caribbean Sea, the Marine Corps has confirmed.
Lance Corporal Chukwuemeka E. Oforah, 21, a Florida native of Nigerian descent, was serving aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima when he reportedly went over the side on February 7 during operations in the region.
Despite an extensive, around-the-clock search and rescue mission that lasted about 72 hours and involved multiple ships, aircraft and other assets from the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force, Oforah could not be found alive. Military authorities officially called off the search on February 10 and declared him deceased.
The circumstances that led to the fatal incident have not yet been released, and a formal military investigation is ongoing. The Marine Corps has emphasised that details surrounding how Oforah fell overboard remain unclear.
Col. Tom Trimble, commanding officer of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing Oforah’s death as “deeply felt” across the unit and vowing that his service “will not be forgotten.”
Oforah, an infantry rifleman, enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 2023. After graduating from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in February 2024, he completed infantry training at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina before joining the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment.
The Iwo Jima has been part of a heightened US military presence in the Caribbean linked to Operation Southern Spear, a multi-layered campaign launched in mid-2025 aimed at countering transnational criminal maritime networks and drug trafficking. The ship was notably involved in actions connected to the high-profile capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January.
Oforah’s passing marks the first publicly acknowledged American military casualty connected to the Caribbean deployment. His death has resonated both within U.S. military circles and among the Nigerian diaspora in the United States, highlighting the sacrifices of young service personnel.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on honouring the life of a young Marine whose promising career and life were cut short at sea.
