Nigerian Navy intercepts 19 stowaways bound for Europe

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Nigerian Navy intercepts 19 stowaways bound for Europe

The Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS, BEECROFT has intercepted 19 suspected stowaways trying to illegally migrate to Europe.

The ship’s Information Officer, Lt. Hussaini Ibrahim, who revealed this in a statement on Saturday in Lagos, said 15 stowaways were intercepted on December 19 onboard European bound vessel Moto Tanker, MT, KRITI RUBY.

Ibrahim said that an additional four were intercepted on December 21 onboard MT MCC YANBU.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the stowaways boarded the vessels at night and concealed themselves in the rudder compartment while attempting to illegally migrate to Europe.

“The Base, through its Quick Response Team (QRT) deployed at ATLAS COVE using the Nigerian Navy Maritime Domain Awareness Facility, Falcon Eye Alignment intercepted the suspected stowaways.

“This comes as a result of ongoing effort to sanitise the maritime environment of all forms of criminalities in support of the Presidential initiative to upscale the Blue Economy,” he said.

According to him, the Falcon Eye Alignment successfully vectored NNS BEECROFT QRT which led to the interception of the 15 suspected stowaways at Lagos fairway buoy.

The officer said that the first 15 suspected stowaways were handed over on Friday to the Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos State Port/Marine Command, Apapa for further investigation and necessary action.

He further stated that the remaining four suspected stowaways would be handed over as soon as possible.

Ibrahim reiterated that NNS BEECROFT under the leadership of Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, would continue to maintain credible presence along Lagos waterways and its adjoining creeks.