The patrol team of the Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT has extracted nine stowaways in the rudder compartment of a Spain bound Motor Tanker vessel: LYSIAS VALETTA.
The Commander of the Ship, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, revealed the development on Monday to newsmen.
He said the stowaways were discovered on February 3 aboard the vessel trying to leave the country illegally.
Oguntuga said that the nine of them had been handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service following established protocols for further necessary action.
He said: “The proactive detection and extraction of these individuals are commendable, preventing them from life-threatening situations during such extended voyage within confined spaces.
“Additionally, this action averts potential security threats to the vessel and its crew as well as mitigating embarrassing situations.”
According to the Commander, the arrested individuals are: Christian Ikechukwu, 32, from Imo State; Dennis Commander, 36, Bayelsa State; Samson Army, 24, Bayelsa State; Aribo Asiko, 26, Ondo State; and Shina Folorunsho, 36, Ekiti State.
Others are: Wisdom Egharevba, 26, from Edo State; Okore Precious, 24, Delta State; Ndukwe Sunday, 25, Enugu State; and Agor Joseph, 57, Delta State.
Oguntuga said that the arrest and handover of the stowaways underscored the Nigerian Navy’s unwavering commitment to its constitutional role under the leadership of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff.
“We will continue to reinforce our dedication towards creating a secure maritime environment for the nation’s economic prosperity,” the commander added.
