It was the end of the road for three suspected stowaways whose attempt to travel illegally to Europe was foiled after they were rescued from a merchant vessel, MV Anatolia, in Lagos.
The Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, said the suspects were discovered when the vessel berthed at the Dangote Terminal after departing from Côte d’Ivoire.
According to him, investigations revealed that the three suspects are nationals of Ghana who had earlier relocated to Abidjan, where they lived for over a year before attempting to migrate to Europe in search of better opportunities.
“They boarded the vessel in Abidjan and concealed themselves in the rudder compartment before it departed. After several hours at sea, the vessel arrived in Lagos, where they emerged thinking they had reached Europe, only to be arrested,” he said.
The suspects were identified as Armah Peter (26), Amisah Daniel (22), and Amoh Michael (25)—were subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for further processing.
Naval authorities disclosed that the trio gained access to the vessel with the aid of a canoe before its departure from Ivorian waters and spent less than 48 hours concealed in the compartment before their discovery on March 28, 2026.
The handover, officials said, reflects strengthened inter-agency collaboration aimed at tackling illegal migration and ensuring maritime security.
Authorities added that the suspects would be repatriated through the Ghanaian Embassy after the completion of necessary legal procedures.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy has warned against the growing trend of stowing away on vessels, describing it as illegal, dangerous and life-threatening.
Commodore Adams Aliu explained that stowaways often endure extreme conditions in confined spaces such as rudder compartments, which can lead to exhaustion, illness or even death.
“One of the reasons these individuals were discovered was likely due to the unbearable conditions in which they were hiding,” he noted.
He urged parents, guardians and community leaders across West Africa to discourage youths from engaging in such risky ventures, stressing that the trend is spreading beyond Nigeria.
The Commander NNS BEECROFT however, reassured stakeholders in maritime trade that Nigerian waters, particularly around Lagos, remain safe for legitimate commercial operations.
He reiterated the commitment of NNS Beecroft to the vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, to safeguard Nigeria’s maritime domain and ensure uninterrupted lawful activities.
Saliu added that the Navy would continue to intensify surveillance and enforcement operations to curb illegal activities within the nation’s territorial waters.
