By Gabriel Ameh
The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT has handed over three suspected stowaways to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in a continued effort to curb illegal migration and enhance maritime security.
The handover was carried out on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, following the rescue of the individuals from a merchant vessel, MT ANATOLIA, at the Dangote Terminal in Lagos.
According to naval authorities, the suspects were discovered on Saturday, March 28, 2026, concealed in the rudder compartment of the vessel while it was docked at the port.
Naval personnel promptly evacuated the individuals and transported them to NNS BEECROFT, where preliminary investigations and profiling were conducted.
The suspects were identified as Armah Peter (26), Amisah Daniel (22), and Amoh Michael (25), all nationals of Ghana.
Further investigation revealed that the trio had travelled from Ghana to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where they lived and worked as fishermen for about a year before attempting to migrate illegally to Europe.
They reportedly accessed the vessel’s rudder compartment using a canoe prior to its departure from Ivorian waters, hoping to reach Europe undetected.
However, after spending hours at sea and believing they had arrived at their destination, they alerted the ship’s crew leading to their discovery and eventual rescue.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the nation’s maritime domain and warned against the dangers of illegal migration, urging parents and guardians across West Africa to discourage young people from embarking on such risky journeys.
