FLASHBACK: How three Nigerian stowaways were arrested after ship landed in Ghana

Three Nigerian nationals were arrested by Tema Port authorities in 2020 after attempting to stow away to Europe aboard a cargo vessel.

The suspects, Isaac Daniel, 32, Stephen Nuta, 28, and Kelvin Popoola, 26, reportedly boarded the vessel MV Unity at Nigeria’s Apapa Port, believing it was bound for Spain in search of greener pastures.

GPHA security manager grabs three stowaways at Tema Port

However, the ship instead sailed to Ghana to offload general goods at the Tema Port, where the men were discovered hiding in a confined space behind the vessel’s propeller.

Read the article originally published on GhanaWeb in January 2020:

Three Nigerians have become the latest suspects arrested by the Tema Port Authorities in 2020 after their attempt to stow away to Europe failed.

The three stowaways, now in police custody, had boarded the vessel from Nigeria hoping to reach Spain in search of better opportunities. The suspects; Isaac Daniel (32), Stephen Nuta (28), and Kelvin Popoola (26), reportedly sneaked onboard the MV Unity from Apapa Port in Nigeria, believing the ship was headed to Spain.

However, the vessel was actually heading to Ghana to unload general goods at the Port of Tema, where the suspects were discovered hiding in a small space behind the ship’s propeller (fan).

The suspects were found with alcoholic beverages, provisions, and a hammer.

According to the suspects, they had managed to outsmart the vessel’s workers and were hoping to pursue opportunities in Europe.

Security officials noted that Isaac Daniel had been arrested in 2019 for a similar offense and deported to Nigeria with a package worth about $600.

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Tema Port Security Manager, Col Punamane, said the issue of stowaways being disembarked at Tema Port is becoming a major concern. He urged measures to prevent stowaway attempts from becoming attractive to the youth.

Meanwhile, port authorities are optimistic that cases of stowaways in 2020 will be reduced to the barest minimum.

MAG/MA

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