Navy arrest 75 stowaways in 10 months, decry upsurge at Lagos end

Following the arrest of 75 stowaways in 10 months, the Navy (NN) have expressed concerns over the menace in Nigerian waters.

The Navy said the act is not only criminal but could lead to death.

The Guardian learnt that the suspected stowaways were arrested between August 2023 and April 2024.

Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, in a statement yesterday, said during the operations, the Quick Response Teams (QRT) carefully extracted the stowaways, who had concealed themselves inside the rudder compartment of the vessels.

According to him, all apprehended stowaways were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in accordance with the established protocols for further necessary action.

Giving details of the stowaways extracted by the NN in August 2023, Commodore Adams-Aliu, said five of them were arrested aboard MSC Martha in Lagos, while eight suspects were arrested in September 2023, aboard Charminar Panama in Lagos Fairway Buoy.

Also, 11 people, he said, were arrested in October 2023 onboard Guangzhou Highway Panama in Lagos Channel and eight suspects in November 2023, onboard Natal in Lagos Fairway Buoy, while four were nabbed in December 2023 onboard Container Vessel Teme in Lagos Channel. Another two were arrested in December 2023 onboard Grande Guinea in Lagos Fairway Buoy.

The Navy spokesperson further stated that 14 suspects were arrested in December 2023 onboard Mt UOG Constantine in Lagos channel, three in January 2024 onboard Front Altiers in Lagos Fairway Buoy, four in February 2024, onboard Mt Chip in Lagos channel, and three in March 2024, onboard Mt Advantage Love in Lagos Channel.

He added that nine suspects were apprehended in March 2024, onboard Mt Lysias Valletta in Lagos Fairway Buoy and four in April 2024 onboard Mt Princess Erin in Lagos Channel.

He said: “For clarity, the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention) defines a stowaway as someone, who is secreted on a ship or in cargo without the consent of the ship owners or the master or any other responsible person.

“Migration as a stowaway is illegal, dangerous and is considered a security threat to ship owners.

“In line with the strategic directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the NN deployed advanced Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) equipment to vector Quick Response Teams (QRT) to all parts of Nigeria’s territorial waters.

“The NN wishes to enlighten the general public on the dangers of attempting to travel as a stowaway.

“These include: severe legal consequences and significant health risks such as negative effects of harsh weather conditions, lack of food and water, injuries and even death.

“Hence, the NN uses this opportunity to discourage Nigerian youths from embarking on such misadventures.”