Navy intercepts ship with 41 illegal migrants in Calabar
The Eastern Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy in Calabar Thursday intercepted ship AV Agamba 41 illegal migrants who had come in from Gabon at the Shoreline jetty in the Cross River State capital.
Also on board the ship were 183 Nigerians.
According to The Nation, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Atiku Abdulkadir, said that the ship was intercepted by men of the Navy on routine patrol.
Abdulkadir, who pointed out that the ship was only allowed to berth at the jetty because a majority of the passengers were Nigerians, said that the Federal Government has placed a ban restricting dumping of illegal immigrants in Nigeria ports.
He said that out of the 183 Nigerians, about 93 of them were children, saying that 83 of the children and a majority of the adults had no travelling passport, but rather, came in with `emergency travelling certificates’.
According to him, the Navy was out to confirm whether the children were taken illegally into Nigerian or not.
He said there was a need to profile them and trace their origin.
“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 travelling 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 for us that people are coming into this country without proper travelling 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,’’ he said.
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 travelling document would be sent back to Gabon.
“We are concerned about security. We want to ensure that the proper thing is done and we cannot afford to allow illegal immigrants 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,’’ the FOC said.
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