by S’ola Filani
Nigerian Navy personnel have arrested about 12 stowaways including a Ghanaian who allegedly sneaked into a Spain-bound vessel, MV African Osprey, in their search for greener pasture.
Handing over the suspects to Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade, said their mission was to illegally exit the country through the ship.
“We carried out preliminary investigations and they confessed that they actually boarded the ship to possible destinations in Europe.
“Their intention was to seek for greener pastures abroad. Based on that confession and extant regulations that issues of this nature, we handed them over to the NIS for a follow up – for further investigation and possible prosecution.
“It is important you find something to do here because Nigeria is a land of plenty. You can do a lot in this country. It is not compulsory you work in a company, you can even be self employed. You went to do a job onboard and you were paid but you decided to stowaway.
The stowaways whose ages were between 12 and 26, reportedly hid inside an unused cabin in the ship said to have been laden with hazardous materials.
The suspects were identified as Boniface Douglas, a Ghanian, Mustapha Ayinla, Bernard Amadi, Azinabor Gideon, Isaac Delight, Daniel Timothy, Justice Agburum, Anthony Oladipupo, Emma Okon, Idowu Adeyemi, Philip Israel and Holly Osatwie
Recovered from them, were kegs of water which they intended to drink during the trip, snacks and Garri.
