Some Nigerian migrants have been rescued off the coast of Brazil after they sailed five weeks on a boat, Brazilian authorities have confirmed.
The two dozen migrants from West Africa were rescued off the coast of northern Brazil, officials from the state of Maranhão said on Sunday.
A fishing boat came upon the drifting vessel with 27 people aboard, including migrants from Nigeria, Senegal Guinea, Sierra Leone and Cape Verde, along with two Brazilians, the state government said in a statement.
Some of the migrants were suffering from dehydration.
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Brazilian newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, citing a Federal Police officer, said that both the rescued Brazilians were arrested for human trafficking.
The official, according to Folha, said the migrants paid to be illegally transported to the South American country.
Federal Police did not immediately comment on the matter. Brazil’s navy said in a statement it had opened a probe, but did not comment on arrests.
The Federal Police did not also comment on the status of the migrants whether they will be deported or allowed to remain in the country.
The boat had been at sea for five weeks, said Folha, citing the Federal Police.
