Lagos Marine immigration arrests five stowaways, seeks stakeholders’ co-operation against irregular migration.

By Segun Oladipupo

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The Lagos Seaports and Marine Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service on Wednesday, 30th August, 2023 received five suspected stowaways from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft.

The suspects who were arrested on board MSC Martha on the 26th August, 2023 at about 1150 pm, hail from Ondo, Enugu and Cross River States.

SI Augustus Maisor, Public Relations Officer, Lagos Seaports/Marine Command, stated this in a press release.

According to him, during the course of profiling, all the suspects were found to be Nigerians who illegally boarded the ship through her rudder compartment with intent to migrate to Europe.

“This is coming barely seven days after Personnel of the Command intercepted a suspected procurer alongside five victims of Human Trafficking while on their way to Mali.

“Worried by the development, the Comptroller of Immigration, Lagos Seaports and Marine Command, Mohammed Saddiq, warned potential travelers against resorting to unauthorized means.

“He stressed that the Command remained unwavering in enforcing the relevant Immigration Laws of the nation.

“He further solicited the cooperation of terminal operators, proximate riverine communities and other stakeholders in the fight against Irregular Migration and Transborder criminality.

“CIS Saddiq also called on parents and community leaders to be awake to their responsibilities and emphasized the directive of the Ag. Comptroller General of Immigration, Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju to ensure adequate patrol of the waterways.

“The Comptroller commended the Nigerian Navy and other sister agencies in complementing the efforts of the Command toward preventing transborder crimes. He attributed the decline in stowaway incidents to the enduring synergy.
The suspects have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, based on their nationalities for prosecution.”