Nigerian Navy Nabs Ship with 183 Nigerians, 41 Illegal migrants in Calabar Port
FeaturedNigeria January 22, 2016 Dianabasi Effiong
Nigerian Navy special boatservice commandos
From: Diana Okon-Effiong, Calabar
No less than 183 Nigerians and 41 illegal migrants on-board a seagoing transport vessel `Av Agamba’ from Gabon were apprehended Thursday at the Shoreline jetty, Calabar by The Eastern Naval Command (ENC) of the Nigerian Navy.
Rear Adm. Atiku Abdulkadir, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, who briefed journalists on the development, said that the ship was intercepted by men of the Navy on routine patrol.
Abdulkadir said that the ship was only allowed to berth at the jetty because a majority of the passengers were Nigerians, adding that the Federal Government has placed a ban on dumping of illegal immigrants in Nigerian ports.
He said that out of the 183 Nigerians, about 93 of them were children while 83 of the children and a majority of the adult, who had no traveling passport, arrived with “emergency traveling certificates”.
According to him, the Navy was out to confirm whether the children were taken illegally into Nigerian or not, saying that there was a need to profile them and trace their origin.
He said: “We also have 41 foreigners on board this ship, out of this number; four of them are from Central African Region while others are from the West African Region. Over 35 of them again are with emergency traveling certificate and no passport. We are trying to work with the Nigeria Immigration to re-assure ourselves that there are not of any dangerous character.
“It is a big concern to us that people are coming into this country without proper traveling documents. Now that there is Lassa fever and other health challenges, we also want to ensure that those that are here are of no health threat to the people around.”
The FOC said that the police and the Department of State Security, who were also on ground at the jetty, would check the Nigerians to ensure that they are of no security threat to the society.
“We will hand the foreigners over to the immigration service for proper check. Anyone found with illegal traveling document would be sent back to Gabon. We are concern about security; we want to ensure that the proper thing is done and we cannot afford to allow illegal immigrant into this country anyhow.
“I am happy that the relevant security agencies are all here. Anyone one of them found with illegal document will be repatriated back to Gabon with this same ship,” he said.
Mr Anthony Ugbe, an Assistant Comptroller of Immigration in charge of Ports, said that in cases of emergency, “emergency traveling certificates” were required for traveling.
According to Ugbe, it is the duty of the Nigerian Immigration Service to certify the traveling status of the foreigners, profile them and ensure that the right thing is done.
Abdulkadir said that the ship was only allowed to berth at the jetty because a majority of the passengers were Nigerians, adding that the Federal Government has placed a ban on dumping of illegal immigrants in Nigerian ports.
He said that out of the 183 Nigerians, about 93 of them were children while 83 of the children and a majority of the adult, who had no traveling passport, arrived with “emergency traveling certificates”.
According to him, the Navy was out to confirm whether the children were taken illegally into Nigerian or not, saying that there was a need to profile them and trace their origin.
He said: “We also have 41 foreigners on board this ship, out of this number; four of them are from Central African Region while others are from the West African Region. Over 35 of them again are with emergency traveling certificate and no passport. We are trying to work with the Nigeria Immigration to re-assure ourselves that there are not of any dangerous character.
“It is a big concern to us that people are coming into this country without proper traveling documents. Now that there is Lassa fever and other health challenges, we also want to ensure that those that are here are of no health threat to the people around.”
The FOC said that the police and the Department of State Security, who were also on ground at the jetty, would check the Nigerians to ensure that they are of no security threat to the society.
“We will hand the foreigners over to the immigration service for proper check. Anyone found with illegal traveling document would be sent back to Gabon. We are concern about security; we want to ensure that the proper thing is done and we cannot afford to allow illegal immigrant into this country anyhow.
“I am happy that the relevant security agencies are all here. Anyone one of them found with illegal document will be repatriated back to Gabon with this same ship,” he said.
Mr Anthony Ugbe, an Assistant Comptroller of Immigration in charge of Ports, said that in cases of emergency, “emergency traveling certificates” were required for traveling.
According to Ugbe, it is the duty of the Nigerian Immigration Service to certify the traveling status of the foreigners, profile them and ensure that the right thing is done.
Dianabasi Effiong
