Nigerian Navy arrests 5 stowaways at Lagos anchorage

By : Guardian Nigeria

Date: 1 December 2021 6:14pm WAT

French frigate Germinal (L), Nigeria's frigate NNS Thunder (C) and another Nigerian ship sails during fleet manoeuver exercise at the five-day joint military exercise between Nigeria and French navy codenamed Grand African NEMO (Navy Exercise Maritime Operations) in Nigerian waters - The Nigerian Navy has participated in a five-day multinational military exercise codenamed Grand African NEMO (Navy Exercise Maritime Operations), and with a joint naval drills with the French counterpart designed to support regional navies and allied nations to check criminal activities and perfect strategies in tackling maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP)

The Nigerian Navy Ship (BEECROFT) has arrested five stowaways caught onboard MT CHEMSTRANS BALTIC vessel at Lagos anchorage.

The Commander NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Bashir Mohammed, in a signed statement, said that the stowaways were arrested on Tuesday, Nov. 30 and had been handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service.

“Findings during the interrogation revealed that MT CHEMSTRANS BALTIC was Europe-bound.

“The suspects had gained illegal access to the ship but were caught by the crew and handed over to NNS BEECROFT’s patrol team during routine Harbour patrol,” he said.

Mohammed said that the stowaways were between the ages of 23 years and 27 years, and hailed from different parts of the country.

“The suspects confessed that they travelled to Lagos with the intention of leaving the country for Europe in search of greener pasture before they were apprehended,” the Commodore said.

He advised Nigerians to always follow due process of migration to avoid being sanctioned and commended the NNS BEECROFT’s patrol team for the arrest.

Mohammed conveyed the Chief of Naval Staff’s commitment towards supporting the Nigerian Immigration Service and other stakeholders in curbing crimes within the maritime environment.