The Gambia, on Tuesday, returned nine Nigerian stowaways who had illicitly boarded a ship departing from the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos.
The stowaways, aged between 21 and 30, were repatriated to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, via an Asky flight through Lome, Togo.
As reported by Ships & Ports, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) officials welcomed and received them upon their return.
The stowaways confessed to boarding the ship at Tin-Can Island Port with hopes of escaping to Europe.
Their plan was foiled when the ship’s captain discovered them and promptly alerted security agencies in the neighboring country.
In a desperate attempt to avoid arrest, the stowaways jumped into the sea, with two of them unable to swim and subsequently requiring rescue.
Adesola Adesokan, the Comptroller of Immigration at the airport, confirmed the repatriation.
READ ALSO: FG Bans ‘Ghana Must Go’ Sacks in Airports Nationwide
She expressed concern over the recurring cases of stowaways among Nigerians and highlighted the challenges faced in convincing the individuals to return voluntarily.
The stowaways were initially reluctant, even demanding money from the immigration service before agreeing to return to Nigeria.
Adesokan explained, “They were eventually taken to the Nigeria High Commission in The Gambia, which persuaded them and issued them emergency travel documents to enable them to be brought back to Nigeria through the MMIA.”
While appealing to individuals contemplating such risky ventures, Adesokan stressed the need to follow legal channels for international travel.
She urged a shift in mentality, emphasizing the negative consequences that illegal entry can have on individuals’ lives, including deportation and involvement in undesirable activities abroad.
Abdul Yakubu, one of the stowaways, revealed that he was enticed by a friend while selling noodles and fried eggs on Lagos Island.
He was offered the opportunity to stow away on a ship for a fee of N70,000. Another stowaway, Daniel Vincent, regretfully recounted the experience, stating, “It was a very regrettable experience I would not encourage even my enemies to embark upon.”