The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT has handed over five suspected stowaways rescued aboard the merchant vessel, MT CHINAFRIE HAPPINESS, to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation and necessary immigration procedures.
In a statement, the Naval Assistant to Commander NNS BEECROFT, Sub-Lieutenant AO Ajayi explained that for clarity, a stowaway is a person who conceals themselves aboard a vessel with the intention of travelling illegally to another country without authorisation.
Ajayi said that “the handover forms part of ongoing collaborative efforts among security agencies to curb illegal migration and enhance maritime safety and security”.
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According to him, the suspects were discovered concealed within the rudder compartment of the vessel.
He noted that they were safely evacuated and conveyed to NNS BEECROFT for preliminary investigation and profiling.
“Initial findings identified the suspects as Segun Samuel Boyewa (31), Kingsley Chukwu (43), Joseph Judge (33), Moses Aletor (24), and Abdullahi Danlami (31)”, he stated.
Further investigations revealed that the suspects boarded MT CHINAFRIE HAPPINESS while the vessel was berthed alongside Tin Can Island Port with the intention of travelling illegally to India.
“It has now become important for parents, guardians, and other authority figures within society to discourage youths from attempting to board seagoing vessels illegally”, he emphasised.
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 (Admiralty Medal), 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, Ajayi concluded.
