Stowaways: 3 teenagers arrested for attempting to illegally board international flights in Lagos
Commissioner of Police for the command, Salahu Waheed, said the suspects, Lateef Popoola, 13; Amadi Joshua, 14; and Ukpabio Onyedikachi, 14, were arrested at different times at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja.
Waheed, while handing over the suspects to their mothers, said there was a need for their respective state governments to rehabilitate them like the Edo State Government did with teenage stowaway, Daniel Ihekina, who was arrested on August 24, 2013 after sneaking into the tyre compartment of a Lagos-bound Arik plane.
He said, “These boys were found at different times at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Their aim was to get into any plane and travel out of Nigeria.
“I decided to hand them over to their parents so they will be well taken care of and stop dwelling on the fantasy that you can just come into the airport, enter a plane and travel.
“Their state governments should try to rehabilitate them just like Edo State did for the stowaway in Benin.
“Lateef Popoola is from Ogun State; Amadi Joshua is from Ebonyi while Ukpabio Onyedikachi is from Abia State.
“The airport is not a place that you can just come into and travel. There are formalities. We don’t want to see these children here again.”
Since the Edo stowaway was widely celebrated and rewarded (not that I am not happy for him), it sets a wrong precedent for teenagers all over the country!
This is now becoming a trend, what works for one ought to work for others, I won't be surprised If more parents are aiding their children to acquire stowaway status
ReplyDeleteThese boys should be caned rather than 'rehabilitation' to serve as deterrent. Giving them a hero's welcome will encourage other children to attempt this dangerous gamble in future. This police officer is really a dummy.....should be ashamed of himself .
ReplyDeleteLol! The new trend in town
ReplyDelete