PHOTO: Austin Taylor, Ambassadors. Godfrey Odudigbo, Augustine Gang, Robert Budy and Moses Nebleh (Left) and the rescused migrants (Right)
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The agent of M V Ophelia, the ship accused of throwing 12 stowaways off board into the sea, has apologized for the incident and has agreed to shoulder the responsibility of repatriating them to their countries.
The 12 men, who were allegedly dumped in deep sea by crew of a Chinese Cargo Ship, “OPHELIA PANAMA”, were rescued on September 7, 2022 in Liberia’s southeastern Grand Kru County. Fishermen In Grand Kru County Rescue 12 Nigerian Nationals At Sea – News Public Trust
The Managing Director of the ICT Africa-Liberia, Austin Taylor, said the owner of the ship regret the incident and will work through him (the agent) in resolving the matter.
Mr. Taylor made the disclosure in a joint press conference with the Commissioner General of the Liberia Immigration Service in Monrovia Wednesday.
According to him, the crew thought that stowaways were pirates when they discovered them on board the ship as they preventing them from seizing vessel and taking them (the crew) hostage.
“ I wish to express regret on behalf of the ship owners to you gentlemen from Nigeria and Cameroun and they actually feel your pains ,” he said; adding : “it is unfortunate that things happened in this manner they took those measures thinking that they were under attack by pirates .”
Mr. Taylor explained that he has been instructed to work with relevant authorities and their embassies to make sure that they repatriated to their respective countries.
Some of the 12 stowaways listening during the press conference in Monrovia
The ship agent cautioned the stowaways to treasure their lives rather than engaging on an illegal and dangerous journey in the name dodging hardship.
“Success cannot only be achieved in Europe as they can also make living successfully by working towards a better life because there are lot of people who left Africa for European countries and they are still suffering and unable to pay their way home.”
Also speaking, LIS Commissioner General, Robert Budy, said government will not leave any stone unturned in repatriating the crew of the M V Ophelia to face justice for their crimes.
According to him, the altitude of the ship crew against the stowaways constitutes the violation of human rights, the Liberian and international laws.
“From all indications,” he went on, “the two others, who have not been found until now, are either missing or fear dead in the high sea.”
The LIS Commissioner General explained that he has formally forwarded the case to the Liberia Maritime Authority and the Ministry of Justice to ensure that justice is served in this case
For his part, the Cameroonian Ambassador and the Doyen of the diplomatic corps in Liberia, Augustine Gang, said these acts done by the crews on ships sailing the international waters around the African Continent thinks that they do such devilish things and go with impunity.
According to him, there are international laws governing the stowaways on ships and they are known by all captains of ships sailing any international sea
He appealed to the Liberian government to take serious punitive action against the crews of the MV Ophelia in Liberia in order to serve as a deterrent
The Cameroonian Ambassador thanked the Liberian government especially the people in Grand kru county for their efforts in rescuing the stowaways.
Turning on the stowaways, he said: “death is greater than suffering, and cautioned them against venturing into dangerous simply in the names of reducing their sufferings
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Ambassador, Godfrey Odudigbo . has expressed disappointment on the incident in which two Nigerians stowaways were killed on board the MV Ophelia .
“We want to assure you that we will work with the Liberia Maritime Authority and the Liberia Immigration Authority to make sure that the perpetrators to this crime do not go with impunity.”
He advised the stowaways that it is better to struggle and survive in Africa than try this dangerous journey and lost your lives as was done by the two victims.
“Lot of people trying to travel to Europe through the Sahara Desert died either from starvation or got drawn in crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Libya or Morocco.”
The press conference was graced by the leaderships of the Nigerian and the Cameroonian communities in Liberia and some top brass of the Liberia Immigration Service.