NIGERIAN NAVY SHIP BEECROFT PRESS RELEASE ON THE ARREST OF FOUR STOWAWAYS
On Wed 11 August 2021 at about 0900, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT arrested four (4) stowaways caught onboard MT RIVER SHINER vessel at Lagos anchorage. The arrest was done by NNS BEECROFT patrol team during the routine Harbour patrol. The team observed suspicious movements of a wooden boat around the stern part of the vessel at about 0400 and decided to conduct a search and found the stowaways inside the propeller housing.
The Commander NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Bashir Mohammed, in a signed statement stated that findings during the interrogation revealed that the stowaways had come from different parts of the country to Lagos state in search for jobs. The suspects claimed that they lived with a friend at Sagbo Koji community, an island settlement along Sea school channel- Apapa channel on arrival to Lagos. Additionally, they confessed that it was at Sagbo Koji community they heard about stowaway missions and decided to travel to Europe. The Stowaways are; Mr Happy Azuka (25 years), Mr Felix Bright (19 years), Mr Osas Kennedy (22 years) and Mr Onyibe Lucky (19 years). The suspects have been handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service for further investigation and prosecution.
Commodore Mohammed whilst commending NNS BEECROFT patrol team advices Nigerians to always follow due process of migration to avoid being sanctioned. He further conveyed the Chief of Naval Staff’s commitment towards supporting the Nigerian Immigration Service and other Maritime stakeholders in curbing crimes within the maritime domain.
Source : Nigerian Navy
