Nine Nigerian youths suspected to be stowaways were on Tuesday delivered to Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos Command by immigration personnel from The Gambia,
The suspects were alleged to have boarded a Merchant Vessel MV Azuru from Marina Port, Lagos Island with the intention to arrive at any European destination within two weeks
Lucky, however, ran against them on the fifth day of the voyage, when they were detected by the crew to have boarded the ship illegally and hid themselves in the propeller room of the ship.
The suspects who regretted their actions, however, claimed they were lured into the voyage by some of their friends who were lucky to make it to Europe through the same mode and mean.
This is as Mrs. the Comptroller, NIS, MMIA Command,Mrs. Adesola Adesokan who counselled Nigerian youths against irregular travels to Europe, described such a voyage as deadly.
Investigation by African Business Travel News (ABTNEWS) revealed that on realising that they had been detected by the crew the suspects within the ages of 21 and 30 jumped into high sea to escape arrest but were rescued and brought onshore through the joint efforts of the crew members and security operatives in The Gambia.
Two of the suspects actually cconfessed that they once attempted to travel to Europe through the same mean but failed
After rescued them, they were taken to the Nigeria High Commission in The Gambia where they were profiled and immediately provided with emergency travel documents, despite their reluctance to return into Nigeria.
The stowaways were brought back to Nigeria through the Asky Airlines with the registration number: via Lome, Togo.
Adesola Adesokan, in an interview with aviation journalists, lamented the incessant stowaway incidents among Nigerians and urged them to refrain from engaging in such dangerous venture.
According to her, such a trip was a deathtrap waiting to happen, regretting that many Nigerians had lost their lives through such means in the past.
She explained that the nine stowaways were handed over to the MMIA Command by the officials of the Gambian immigration service.
She said: “About nine Nigerians were sent back from The Gambia immigration officers for attempted stowaway in the high sea and two of them almost lost their lives in the process because when they were discovered, they attempted to escape and jumped into the high sea. Unfortunately for them, two of them could not swim.
“The captain of the ship had to get in touch with the country that is within the neighbourhood for the rescue mission. The security officers were able to quickly rescue them, put them in the boat and took them to a hotel where they were given food.
“But, they were very resistant and refused to return to Nigeria. In fact, they were still demanding money from the immigration service there before they could return to Nigeria. They were eventually taken to the Nigeria High CCommissioner n The Gambia, who persuaded them and issued them emergency travel documents for them to be able to be brought back to Nigeria through the MMIA.”
She also appealed to such irregular travelers to desist from it and follow the right channel of travels to any country of their choice if they have to travel out of the country.
“We need to change our mentality. When they get there illegally, the first thing is they will begin to hide and when they are caught, they will be deported. Even when they are not caught, they go there to do odd jobs that they cannot be proud of doing to their friends and family members.
“They should look before they leap. Most of the time, it may be a journey of no return. I am not saying you can’t travel abroad, but, go there legally, read your books, apply it in the right way, apply to travel and go and showcase Nigeria as a very intelligent nation in the comity of nations,” she said.
In his statement, Abdul Yakubu, one of the stowaways, alleged that he was selling noodles and fried eggs on Lagos island before he was cajoled to embark on the trip.
He alleged that he lost N70,000, which he paid to the man who introduced and boarded him on the ship.
Daniel Vincent, another suspected stowaway, said he thought he would have been in Europe after three days of the trip.
Vincent said he was shocked to realise that he had not left the shore of Africa when they were detected by the crew members of the ship and handed over to immigration in The Gambia.
“They told us we would be in Europe within five or six days. We didn’t carry any food or water with us when we boarded the ship at Marina port around CMS busc stop on Lagos. It was a very regrettable experience I would not encourage even my enemies to embark upon,” he said.
A boat driver, who declined to give his name, claimed he had once embarked on an unsuccessful trip as a stowaway.
He claimed he was convinced to make another attempt by a friend who successfully entered Europe through the illegal method.
