The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Lagos Seaports and Marine Command on Friday arrested six stowaways at about 3 nautical miles off the Lagos fairway buoy.
The stowaways, who are all Nigerians, allegedly boarded a South Africa-bound vessel, MV GRAND DUKE with Panama flag along the Lagos channel while sailing at slow speed.
Public Relations Officer of the command, Augustus Maisor, who disclosed this in a statement, identified the stowaways as Pedro Desmond Peter (27) from Borno State; Noah Osas Richard (24), Edo State; Eze Paul (36), Imo State; Elijah Sunday (35); Adewale Thompson Oki (29) and Paul Oguns (24), all from Ondo State.
In consonance with the NCDC guidelines on COVID-19, the stowaways (all male) were subjected to temperature check by Port Health officials before profiling by personnel of the command.
While parading the irregular migrants at the, Comptroller Olubusola Fashakin, was quoted as saying that the command was working with the Port Health Services and other critical stakeholders in preventing spread of coronavirus hrough irregular migration.
She said the six stowaways are to be handed over to the Police for further action.