Connect with us

News

Nigerian security arrests 16 stowaways on US-bound vessel

Published

on

Navy reaffirms commitment to protect nation’s maritime domain

Search and Rescue personnel of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in conjunction with officers and men of the Nigerian Navy have apprehended 16 stowaways on a United States-bound vessel, MV Colombia River.

The arrest which was effected on Friday November 4, 2016 at the Lagos fairway bouy was sequel to a distress signal sent to the Regional Search and Rescue Coordination Centre based in NIMASA which in turn alerted the Nigerian Navy. The Navy immediately sent its vessel NNS Karaduwa to the location of MV Colombia River where 16 stowaways were apprehended and one of them sustained an injury on the shoulder while attempting to escape arrest.

The injured stowaway was immediately taken away by the NIMASA Search and Rescue team on its vessel NIMASA Benue to the Agency’s Search and Rescue Base Clinic for treatment while the others were taken away by the Navy for profiling and subsequent hand over to the Security Agencies for further investigation.

The crew of the Hong Kong flagged vessel had originally thought that they were under attack by armed pirates but preliminary investigation show that the persons on board the vessel were only intruders who hid in the vessel to leave the shores of Nigeria in search of greener pastures in the US.

The stowaways who included one Liberian national are in custody and will be handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service for further action.

It will be recalled that piracy and related activities have drastically reduced in Nigerian waters as a result the combined efforts of the Nigerian Navy, NIMASA and other stakeholders with Lagos accounting for zero incident in the last six months.

NEWSVERGE, published by The Verge Communications is an online community of international news portal and social advocates dedicated to bringing you commentaries, features, news reports from a Nigerian-African perspective. The Verge Communications (NEWSVERGE) is fully registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a corporate organization.

NIGERIA DECIDES

NIGERIA DECIDES

Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
GTB
JoinOurWhatsAppChannel