NIS receives 9 Nigerian stowaways rescued in the Gambia
Nine Nigerian individuals, aged between 21 and 30, were intercepted in their attempt to stowaway to Europe via The Gambia.
The incident was disclosed by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos Command, on Tuesday.
Expressing remorse for their ill-fated venture, the stowaways claimed to have been enticed by friends who had successfully navigated the same perilous path to Europe.
Speaking on the ordeal with aviation correspondents, Mrs. Adekola Adesokan, the Comptroller of NIS at MMIA, strongly discouraged irregular travels to Europe, labeling them as potential death traps.
She appealed to Nigerians to abandon irregular travel methods and follow legal channels.
Underscoring the importance of changing the mindset surrounding illegal immigration, Adesokan encouraged aspiring travelers to represent Nigeria positively on the global stage.
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 Gambian 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 Commission in The Gambia, which persuaded them and issued them emergency travel documents for them to be able to be brought back to Nigeria through the MMIA.”
Among the returnees, Abdul Yakubu disclosed that he was coerced into the journey while selling noodles and dried eggs on Lagos Island. He alleged losing N70,000 in the process.
Another returnee, Daniel Vincent, expressed shock at realizing he had not left the African shore when the crew members detected their presence.
“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 Tin Can Port in Lagos. It was a very regrettable experience I would not encourage even my enemies to embark upon,” he said.
Adding a troubling dimension to the story, a boat driver anonymously revealed his unsuccessful attempt as a stowaway, influenced by a friend who had entered Europe through illegal means.
Adesokan said the incident serves as a poignant reminder of the risks associated with irregular migration and the urgent need for increased awareness and education on legal travel pathways.
“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.
