By Evelyn Usman
Five stowaways, who slipped into a Spain-bound vessel, MSC MARTHA, have been safeguarded by work force of the Nigerian Naval force Boat, NNS Beecroft, at the Lagos port.The stowaways are Effiong Okon (44), Ayewuni Daniel (27), Ajagboma Asiko (29), Adebanjo Ayewumi (23), and Christian Joseph (25).
Making sense of how they were captured, while giving them over to the Nigeria Movement Administration, yesterday, the Authority, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, said: ” Around 11.50 pm on August 26, while on our ordinary normal check of vessels that were traveling all through Lagos harbor, we got a call from MSC MARTHA that they noticed a few unapproved people installed the vessel.
“We informed the FALCON EYE center, which is the maritime domain awareness facility that we use in monitoring the entire maritime environment, as soon as the information was received. The center provided details of the information that enabled us to obtain the vessel’s coordinates.
“On appearance, our men boarded MSC MARTHA and recuperated the unapproved people, that is the stowaways. They were removed from the vessel and taken into our custody.
They admitted during questioning that they entered the vessel via the Rhoda. The vessel’s direction is controlled by a structure called the Rhoda at the bottom.
Two of them were the first in. At the point when three extra came, they were astonished to see the initial two people there. However, when they understood they had a shared objective, they became companions and stayed there determined to pass on the shores of the country to another country.”
Commodore Oguntuda said three cell phones, bunches of bread rolls, sachet water, belongings and a money of N7,900 were tracked down on them.
On their part, the stowaways pinned their extravagance on the cruel economy, regretting how they were battling to take care of themselves and families.