The Nigerian Navy has said it has arrested 75 stowaways on Nigeria’s waterways between August 2023 and April 2024.
This was as the service expressed concern over the spate of some citizens seeking migration to other places through stowaway means.
The Navy, in a statement on Wednesday by its Director of Information, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, said Migration as a stowaway was illegal and dangerous.
He also called for caution as the act constitutes security threats to shipowners
Adams-Aliu, however, said the arrests were made in line with the strategic directive of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.
He said, “The Nigerian Navy is concerned by the upsurge in cases of stowaways in Nigerian waters. For clarity, the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention) defines a stowaway as someone who is secreted on a ship, or in cargo without the consent of the shipowners or the master or any other responsible person.
“Migration as a stowaway is illegal, dangerous and is considered a security threat to shipowners. In line with the strategic directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the NN deployed advanced Maritime Domain Awareness equipment to vector Quick Response Teams ( to all parts of Nigeria’s territorial waters. Consequently, the NN apprehended about 75 stowaways from August 2023 to April 2024.”
Giving a breakdown of the arrests, Aliu said five stowaways were nabbed from Msc Martha in August 2023 and eight from Charminar Panama in September.
In addition, 11 stowaways were arrested from Guangzhou Highway Panama in October; eight from Natal in November; four from Container Vessel Teme in December and another two from Grande Guinea and 14 from Mt UOG Constantine.
In January 2024, three were arrested from Front Altiers; four from MT Chip; three from MT Advantage Love; nine from MT Lysias Valletta Valletta and four from MT Princess Erin in February, March and April respectively.