Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft have arrested eight suspected stowaways who tried to board two speedboats.
The arrest took place on July 13, 2024, during a patrol by the NNS Beecroft in Lagos.
The patrol team spotted the suspects attempting to board the MV Northernlight vessel through its rudder compartment along the Lagos Channel.
This latest arrest brings the total number of stowaways apprehended by NNS Beecroft to 33 between January and July this year.
Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, Director of Naval Information, said in a statement on Tuesday that five of the eight suspects admitted they wanted to travel abroad.
He said, “NNS Beecroft on July 13, 2024, arrested eight suspected stowaways in two speedboats attempting to board MV Northernlight while underway along Lagos Channel. The incident occurred when the patrol team sighted the suspects attempting to board the vessel through its rudder compartment.”
Adams-Aliu added, “The suspects and speed boats have been handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service, Lagos State Port and Marine Command for further investigation.”
In the past week, the Nigerian Navy has also rescued eight female victims of human trafficking and two drowning fishermen. Adams-Aliu said, “In the past week, from 9-13 July 2024, Nigerian Navy units across the Nation’s maritime domain also rescued 8 female victims of human trafficking and 2 drowning fishermen. Additionally, a sea robbery attempt was foiled within the same period.”
On July 9, 2024, the Quick Response Team of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base Badagry intercepted a wooden passenger boat with eight females aged between 18-23 years en route to the Benin Republic. Adams-Aliu noted, “Upon interrogation, it became obvious that they were being trafficked by a yet-to-be-identified agent.”
The rescued victims were handed over to the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for further investigation to identify the agent and the trafficking syndicate.
