The Nigerian public has been cautioned not to fall into the trap of unauthorised travel to Europe.
Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Service, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, Lagos, Adelola Adesokan, gave this admonition when nine Nigerians who had attempted to smuggle themselves into Europe via The Gambia were repatriated and received by the command.
Adesokan said several Nigerians who have made such travels in the past never reached their destination due to the considerable risks associated with their attempts.
The Comptroller pleaded with such erratic tourists to stop doing so and take the proper route to any nation of their choice.
She said if the stowaways are lucky enough to reach their destination, they will start to hide and will be deported if discovered.
They go there to perform odd jobs that they can’t be proud to share with their friends and family, even if they escape detection.
Adesokan said, “They should look before they leap. Most of the time, it may be a journey of no return. I am not saying you can’t travel abroad, but, go there legally, read your books, apply it in the right way, apply to travel and go and showcase Nigeria as a very intelligent nation in the comity of nations.”
However, the remorseful stowaways asserted that several of their friends who were fortunate enough to reach Europe by the same route had seduced them into embarking on the journey.
The young people from Nigeria, ages 21 to 30, tried to cross the Gambia Sea to reach Europe, but the ship captain saw them and promptly notified the neighboring country’s security services.
Two of the stowaways were discovered to be having difficulties swimming when they jumped into the open water in an effort to evade capture.
After being saved from drowning, they were brought to the Nigerian High Commission in The Gambia, where they were given emergency travel documents right once, allowing them to be repatriated to Nigeria even though they were reluctant to go back.
Asky Airlines was used to return the stowaways to Nigeria.
The personnel of the Gambian immigration agency turned up the nine stowaways to the MMIA Command, she clarified.
“About nine Nigerians were sent back from 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.”
Adesokan told journalists the stowaways 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.
