The commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT,
Commodore Bashir Mohammed, said Wednesday that four suspected stowaways aboard
the vessel MT RIVER SHINER was caught and arrested at the Lagos anchorage.
The commander said the arrests were made by the NNS BEECROFT
patrol team during a routine port patrol.
He said the team observed suspicious movements of a wooden
boat in the stern area of the vessel and decided to conduct a search, during
which the suspects were found in the propeller housing.
"On interrogation, it emerged that the stowaways had
come to Lagos from different parts of the country in search of jobs.
"The suspects disclosed that when they arrived Lagos,
they lived with a friend in Sagbo Koji community, an island settlement in Sea
School Channel-Apapa Channel.
"They also admitted that they had heard about stowaways
in Sagbo Koji community and decided to travel to Europe," he said.
"The suspects were handed over to the Nigerian Immigration
Service (NIS) for further investigation and prosecution," he said.
The commander advised Nigerians to always follow the proper
migration process to avoid sanctions.
He also reiterated the commitment of the Chief of Naval
Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, to support the NIS and other maritime
stakeholders in their efforts to curb criminal activities in the maritime
sector.