Navy Nabs Nine Stowaways on Spain-bound Vessel
A Nigerian Navy patrol team from the ship Beecroft successfully extracted nine stowaways from the rudder compartment of the motor tanker vessel Lysias Valeta, destined for Spain.
Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, the Commander of the ship, disclosed on Monday that the stowaways were found on February 3 aboard the vessel, attempting to leave the country illegally.
The Commander stated that the nine individuals were handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service in accordance with established protocols for further necessary action.Oguntuga commended the proactive detection and extraction of the stowaways, emphasizing the prevention of potentially life-threatening situations during extended voyages within confined spaces.He also highlighted that such actions help avert potential security threats to the vessel and its crew, as well as mitigate embarrassing situations.
The arrested individuals were identified as Christian Ikechukwu, 32, from Imo; Dennis Commander, 36, from Bayelsa; Samson Army, 24, from Bayelsa; Aribo Asiko, 26, from Ondo; and Shina Folorunsho, 36, from Ekiti.
Others included Wisdom Egharevba, 26, from Edo; Okore Precious, 24, from Delta; Ndukwe Sunday, 25, from Enugu; and Agor Joseph, 57, from Delta.Oguntuga stressed 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, Chief of the Naval Staff.
“We will continue to reinforce our dedication towards creating a secure maritime environment for the nation’s economic prosperity,” the Commander affirmed.Credit: Punch News