The Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT, has intercepted four suspected stowaways from a container Vessel, MV TEME EXPRESS.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday by the base information officer, Sub Lieutenant Hapinness Collins, the stowaways were apprehended onboard the vessel on Monday, 13 November, 2023.
According to the statement, the vessel was enroute Dubai, saying the stowaways are identified as: Ebi Agrive, 22 years old from Bayelsa state; Lucky Amusu, 23 years from Lagos state; Goodness Edu, 28 years from Akwa Ibom and Micheal Daniel, 18 years from Ondo state.
She stated that the suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in accordance with the established protocols and for further investigation.
“Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT patrol team while on routine patrol successfully extracted and apprehended some individuals on Monday, 13 November 2023 onboard Container Vessel TEME EXPRESS which was enroute Dubai.
“According to the Commander NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Kolawole Olumide Oguntuga, tactical teams were dispatched to the vessel at Lagos Anchorage, sequel to receiving information from the Maritime Domain Awareness Facility, the Falcon Eye Alignment. Upon arrival, the teams noticed movements inside the rudder compartment.
“Consequently, the teams boarded the ship located and extracted the 4 stowaways. The stowaways were found with a bag filled with snacks and a another polybag containing sachet water.”
The NNS BEECROFT commander, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, according to the statement, said the stowaway posed myriad of security threats.
“The Commander further stated that apart from the stowaways putting themselves in life threatening situations during the long voyage at sea especially as they remain in a confined space for extended duration, the stowaways also present myriad of security threats to the crew with dire consequences on the image of the nation.
“This arrest and handover, therefore, is another testament of the Nigerian Navy’s unwavering commitment and resolve under the Leadership of the chief of Naval staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, towards holistic maritime security for economic prosperity of Nigeria.”
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