PHOTO: Some of the rescued Nigerians rescued from the Chinese cargo ship
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
It has emerged that Fisherman in Liberia’s southeastern coastal city of Grandcess, Grand Kru County have rescued 12 Nigerian nationals who were allegedly dumped in deep sea recently by a Chinese Cargo Ship, “OPHELIA PANAMA” with International Maritime Organization (IMO) #9228083.
The Nigerians Admitted Going Stowaway on the vessel.
www.wikimotors.com defines stowaway as “someone who hides on a train, bus, plane, or ship in the hope of traveling for free. “
According to the Nigerians, they got on-board the vessel from Nigeria Delta Port on September 7,2022 on a slow way mission to Japan, in order to seek job opportunities owing to harsh economic situation they are faced with in their country.
Japan is an island country in East Asia and lies between latitudes 36° 0′ N, and longitudes 138° 00′ E. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north toward the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, and Taiwan in the south.
Those rescued are; Emmanuel Beal, Mike Wilson, Precious Uwalogho, Igiebo Stephen, Soumo Yoel, Temeta Adebiyi Adewale, among others.
The spokesman for the group of rescued Nigerians, Emmanuel Beal said they were fourteen that embarked on the journey from Nigeria on the Chinese ship. But due to the maltreatment and the pouring of chemical on them by the vessel captain and other officers of the cargo cargo ship after passing the night on Liberian waters in Grandcess, two of their colleagues were found dead in the process while escaping.
He thanked the joint security of the county and local fisherman of the coastal community for coming to their rescued, they are the reason they are alive.
The Nigerians said the mood demonstrated by the fishermen shows that Liberians are hospitable people and they care about the safety and general welfare of their African brothers.
According to accounts by eyewitnesses account on Monday, the vessel could not be arrested by Liberian authorities during the rescue process, due to the lack of logistics to chase it in the Liberian waters.
Meanwhile, the 12 Nigeria nationals rescued have now been turned over to the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) for further investigation.
The Local LIS officials in Grand Kru County has assured the Nigerians of their protection in keeping with Liberia’s aliens and nationality laws.