Nafiu’s Family Pleads With Government to Recover His Body

As several days have passed since the disappearance of Police Sergeant Ali Nafiu, his family continues to make an emotional plea to the government to locate and recover his body.

Speaking to RaajjeMV, Nafiu’s family stated that authorities have informed them the area where he went missing is too deep for human divers to reach. While the family acknowledges these technical challenges, they have appealed to the government to seek international assistance if necessary to recover his body and return him to his loved ones.

Nafiu’s family expressed their frustration, noting that while President Dr. Muizzu sought international assistance to locate Italian tourists who recently went missing in the Maldives, they see no reason why similar foreign aid has not been requested to find Nafiu’s body. The family maintains that since Nafiu went missing while on official duty in service to the nation, the government and relevant authorities must prioritize the efforts to locate him.

Furthermore, Nafiu’s family stated that Minister of Home Affairs Ali Ihusaan and Commissioner of Police Mohamed Ahmed visited and met with them. During the meeting, the family reiterated their request for Nafiu’s body to be recovered and returned to them. The family also noted that the search for Nafiu is no longer being conducted on a continuous basis, claiming that operations are carried out intermittently on some days while being halted on others.

The authorities informed the family during their meeting that the search operation remains ongoing. They confirmed that search efforts were conducted as recently as the day before yesterday. The family is also monitoring the progress daily through a tracking application. While no search activity was recorded today, a significant area was covered during the extensive operations carried out the day before yesterday.

Nafiu's Family

Nafiu's family stated that neither President Muizzu nor any high-ranking government official has contacted them over the past few days.

The family further stated that they acknowledge the area is extremely deep and have no desire to see another life lost in the search efforts. However, they believe that the necessary resources may exist and are confident that neighboring countries would provide assistance if President Muizzu were to request it.

Nafiu’s wife has also requested the relevant authorities for full transparency regarding the progress of the ongoing investigation. The family stated that she remains in a state of profound grief and distress following the incident. During a meeting with the family, the Minister of Home Affairs and the Commissioner of Police provided assurances that efforts are underway to seek international assistance for the investigation.

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) previously stated that they have conducted extensive sea and air searches across the Huvadhu Sea in their efforts to locate three missing persons following a maritime accident. The incident occurred in the early hours of August 5, 2026, when the supply boat "Friend 4" capsized and sank 4.1 nautical miles northeast of Gaafu Alif Kudalafari.

The MNDF stated that they have also surveyed the reefs along the Huvadhu Sea and the coastal perimeters of Gaafu Alifu Atoll, accounting for potential drift based on prevailing wind and current patterns.

The individuals reported missing in the incident have been identified as Staff Sergeant Ibrahim Ahmed of the Maldives National Defence Force, Sergeant Ali Naafiu of the Maldives Police Service, and the vessel's captain, Mohamed Hamdhoon. Of the eight people on board at the time of the incident, seven have been successfully rescued by the MNDF.