The Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Beecroft, Apapa, Lagos has disclosed that it had arrested 97 stowaways in different ships within Lagos waters in the last one-year.

The latest arrest was that of three stowaways by the Base patrol team, around Lagos anchorage.

The suspects as gathered, sneaked into MT SCF ALPHINE, a crude oil tank, heading for Europe.

They reportedly hid in one of the compartments of the crude oil tank, with snacks that would last them for the duration of time they would spend on the sea.

While handing the suspects to the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS  for further investigation and prosecution,  the Commander, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Bashir Mohammed, described the arrest as part of Navy’s efforts to rid the nation’s maritime space of all illegalities including human trafficking.

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He stated further that the arrest of the 97 stowaways in one year was a result of the Base’s robust patrols, adding that the suspects had also been handed over to the NIS.

Preliminary investigations by the Base on the recent arrest according to Commodore Mohammed, “revealed that all the stowaways accessed the vessel with the intention of illegally migrating to Europe”.

The handing over of the suspects which was in line with the Standard Operating Procedure was witnessed by the Nigerian Ports Authority Security Team represented by Mr Bukar Kaumi.

Commodore Mohammed reiterated the commitment of the Base to securing Nigeria’s territorial waters, saying it was in line with the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo’s Strategic Directive of 2021-5.

He said, “as partners for a safe maritime environment, members of the public especially our host communities are enjoined to kindly furnish the base with credible information to assist in curbing activities of criminal elements and economic saboteurs”.