Navy arrests 14 stowaways in Lagos

At Lagos Road Stead, the motor tanker UOG Constantine had 14 stowaways on board, according to the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft.

This was revealed in a statement on Tuesday that was signed by Sub-Lieutenant H. A. Collins, the base information officer at NNS Beecroft, and Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, the commander of the maritime component of Operation Awatse.

Osas Nusakare, Victor Egoma, Stephen Mmuta, Ibrahim Hassan, Ebuka Onura, Okonkwo Gift, and Okechi Chika are among the suspects.

The others are Oluwatosin Sunday, Godspower Moses, Ayefuwe Collins, Alfred Ese, Abubakar Ibrahim, Godbless Emmanuel, and Aki Opeoluwa.

The stowaways were apprehended on December 15, 2023, according to Oguntuga’s statement.

He also mentioned that a month prior, two of them had been arrested for a comparable conduct.

“The Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft’s patrol team successfully intercepted and extracted 14 stowaways from a motor tanker to UOG Constantine at Lagos Road Stead on Friday, December 15, 2023, in a proactive and resolute demonstration to sustain maritime security,” the statement reads.

“Intelligence from the Falcon Eye Alignment, a Maritime Domain Awareness Facility, prompted the prompt action.” Combat troops climbed aboard the ship quickly and found activity in the rudder compartment.

The fact that two of the stowaways who were caught had been arrested for a related crime just one month prior highlights how persistent these kinds of illegal activity are.

“The Nigerian Navy’s dedication to maritime safety is highlighted by the patrol team’s courageous efforts, which prevented the people imprisoned in the vessel’s compartment from facing a life-threatening situation,”

Additionally, Oguntuga revealed that the stowaways had been turned over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for all appropriate procedures.

The detained stowaways were quickly turned over to the Nigeria Immigration Service in accordance with established procedures so that they may take any additional required action.

“The incident highlights the Nigerian Navy’s steadfast dedication to its constitutional role, under the direction of Vice Admiral EI Ogalla, the Chief of the Naval Staff, bolstering the commitment to establishing a secure maritime environment for the country’s economic prosperity,” he continued.