BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
Nine Nigerian stowaways are currently cooling their heels at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) command, to explain how they intended to get to Europe illegally via The Gambian sea.
They were received back in Lagos on Tuesday after being deported by Gambian authorities.
On interrogation, the stowaways, who regretted their action, apparently embarked on the suicide mission out of ignorance.
They claimed they were lured into the voyage by some of their friends who were lucky to make it to Europe through the same dangerous path.
It was further gathered that the stowaways, aged between 21 and 30, had carefully gained access into the vessel but were spotted by the ship captain who immediately alerted the security agencies of the neighbouring country.
Not willing to submit to authorities, the youngsters jumped into the high sea with two of them struggling to swim.
They were eventually rescued from drowning and taken to the Nigeria High Commission in The Gambia.
Their emergency travel documents were quickly processed to smoothen their repatriation, though they were reluctant to return into the country.
The stowaways were flown back to Nigeria on Asky Airlines via Lome, Togo.
Speaking on the development, Mrs. Adesola Adesokan, the Comptroller, NIS, MMIA Command, advised Nigerians against irregular travels to Europe, describing such as a deathtrap.
She lamented the incessant stowaway incidents, saying that a great number of the culprits are Nigerians.
While warning the public against it, she said such trips were death traps as many Nigerians had lost their lives through such means in the past.
She said: “We need to change our mentality. When they get there illegally, the first thing is 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 telling 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.
In his statement, Abdul Yakubu, one of the stowaways, alleged that he was selling noodles and eggs on Lagos island before he was sweet-talked into embarking on the trip.
He alleged that he lost N70,000, which he paid to the man who introduced and boarded him on the ship.
Daniel Vincent, another member of the returnees, said he thought he would have been in Europe after three days of the trip.
Vincent said he was shocked to realise that he had not left the shores of Africa when they were detected by the crew members of the ship and handed over to immigration in The Gambia.
“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.
A boat driver, who declined to give his name, claimed he had once embarked on an unsuccessful trip as a stowaway.
He claimed he was convinced to embark on the journey by a friend who successfully entered Europe through the illegal route.
