Navy arrests three Ghanaian stowaways aboard Europe-bound vessel in Lagos
Three Ghanaians, who illegally boarded a Europe-bound vessel in Cote D’Ivoire to migrate to Spain have been arrested in Lagos by operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT. The
- By Precious Igbonwelundu
Three Ghanaians, who illegally boarded a Europe-bound vessel in Cote D’Ivoire to migrate to Spain have been arrested in Lagos by operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT.
The suspects, who claimed to be cousins, were arrested on Saturday after the vessel, MT ANATOLIA, stopped at Dangote Terminal in Ibeju-Lekki.
The suspects identified as Armah Peter, 26, Amisah Daniel, 22, and Amoh Michael, 25, said they were fishermen in Abidjan where they resided before attempting to stowaway to Europe in search of greener pastures.
The trio, who said they spent five days in the ship’s rudder compartment where they hid, said they thought they had arrived in Europe and came out of their hiding place before they were discovered by the vessel’s crew.
The suspects blamed hardship and family pressures for their decision to stowaway, saying their parents were sick in their country and needed money for treatment.
They claimed that since they could not afford the cost of migrating the legal way, they decided to hide in the vessel as some of their friends did in the past, hoping to also be successful like those ones.
The trio who regretted their actions, advised intending migrants to never opt for stowing away, describing it as a dangerous mission.
“I will never try this again. For those five days, we couldn’t sleep. The rudder compartment is so small that you are either squatting, moving around or going to the base of the ship to get some fresh air.
“We finished the garri and water we took onboard and did not bathe throughout. When you want to defecate, you have to go down and do your business in the open sea,” narrated Amoh.
Briefing reporters at the base’s headquarters in Apapa, yesterday, the Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, said they would be handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) for necessary action.
According to him, the handover was part of collaboration between security agencies to curb illegal migration and enhance maritime safety and security.
“In this case, the NIS will be responsible for transferring these suspects to the Ghanaian Embassy after proper judicial procedures,” said Adams-Aliu.
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He said the suspects were safely evacuated from the compartment and conveyed to NNS BEECROFT, adding for preliminary investigation and profiling, adding that initial findings showed that they boarded the vessel with the help of a canoe and when they thought it had arrived Europe, they alerted the crew of their presence which led to their discovery and arrest.
“Once again, parents, guardians and authority figures within the society are requested to advise their youths against attempting to board sea-going vessels illegally. As we can see today, this advice extends beyond Nigerian society to neighbouring countries in the West Coast of Africa.
“Finally, it is pertinent to note that NNS BEECROFT, under my command, will continue to actualise the mission of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, which is to deploy a highly motivated and professional naval force capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime interests and contributing effectively to joint operations in defence of national sovereignty and the maintenance of internal stability,” Adams-Aliu added.
