.jpeg)
The stowaways, however, claimed they were lured into the
voyage by some of their friends who were lucky to have made it to Europe
through the same path.
However, the Comptroller, MMIA Command, NIS, Mrs Adesola
Adesokan, advised Nigerians against irregular travels to Europe, describing
such as a death trap.
It was gathered that the young Nigerians, with ages ranging
from 21 to 30, attempted to travel to Europe through The Gambia Sea, but they
were spotted by the ship captain who immediately alerted the security agencies
of the neighbouring country.
It was learnt that in a bid to escape arrest, the stowaways
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.
The commission immediately processed emergency travel
documents for them to be repatriated to Nigeria, despite their reluctance to
return to the country.
Adesokan, in an interview with aviation journalists,
lamented the high rate of irregular migration.
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 by 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.”
She also appealed to such irregular travellers to desist
from it and follow the right channel of travel to any country of their choice.
“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.
In his statement, one of the stowaways, Abdul Yakubu,
alleged that he was selling noodles and dried eggs on Lagos Island before he
was cajoled to embark on the trip.
He alleged that he lost N70,000, which he paid to the man
who introduced and boarded him on the ship.
Another member of the returnees, Daniel Vincent, said he
thought he would have been in Europe after three days of the trip.