10 stowaways arrested on ships leaving Nigeria

Security operatives in Lagos, have arrested nine Nigerians and a Niger Republic national trying to enter Europe illegally, TheNation reports. .

The suspects were apprehended inside two Merchant Vessels- MV MSC PAOLA and MV MAERSK CHANNIA – by officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigerian Navy (NN) respectively. .

It was gathered that five of the suspects, were apprehended by naval personnel during routine patrol on Monday, while others were caught by NIS officers on Sunday by the Fairway Buoy. .

The suspects, it was learnt, got into the vessels with the help of local fishermen, not knowing that foreign ships only sailed within West African waters. .

NIS Lagos Seaport and Marine Comptroller, Modupe Anyalechi, listed the suspects as Orire Popoola, Kelvin Wessey, Erukudami Moses, Odiyeye Abiye, Agba Victor, Odogwu Michael, Kelly Onikan, Pope Ekele, Asumah Ukpere and Wessem Nasuru. .

One of the suspects, Odogun, an artiste, said he had been performing at different shows without making headway in life, adding that he thought the risk would change his destiny for the better. .

Popoola, 28, said he had thought the vessel was Europe bound, adding that he was prepared to risk it all to go overseas. He said: “I will take any risk to find my way out of Nigeria. I have no job. I am doing nothing. .

I believe if I can follow a ship to Europe, I can be anything I want to be. I thought the ship was going to Holland or anywhere in Europe where I could make it.”

Let's block ads! (Why?)