Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT has intercepted three Ghanaian nationals attempting to migrate illegally to Europe and handed them over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for further action.
The arrest comes barely a week after NNS BEECROFT personnel foiled a similar attempt involving two stowaways trying to reach Spain, underscoring renewed naval vigilance around Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Speaking to journalists at the Naval Base in Apapa on Wednesday, the Commander of NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Alia, said the men were discovered aboard the merchant vessel MT ANATOLIA while it was berthed at the Dangote Terminal in Lagos.
He identified the suspects as Armah Peter (26), Amisah Daniel (22) and Amoh Michael (25). They were found on Saturday, March 28, 2026, concealed inside the vessel’s rudder compartment.
According to the Commander, investigations showed that the trio had previously travelled from Ghana to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where they lived for about a year working in fishing.
“Further inquiry revealed that with the aid of a canoe, they gained access to the rudder compartment of MT ANATOLIA before the vessel departed Ivorian waters, with the intention of travelling illegally to Europe,” he said.
After several hours at sea, believing they had reached their destination, the men reportedly alerted the ship’s crew, leading to their detection and rescue.
Commodore Adams-Aliu said they were immediately evacuated to NNS BEECROFT for preliminary investigation and profiling before being handed over to the NIS, which will liaise with the Ghanaian Embassy for their repatriation after due procedures.
The Commander stressed that the arrest reflects ongoing inter-agency collaboration to curb irregular migration and guarantee maritime safety and security.
He urged parents and guardians across West Africa to caution young people about the life-threatening risks of stowing away.
“Stowing away in a vessel’s rudder compartment is not only illegal, it is one of the most dangerous forms of irregular migration,” he said, noting that the men were likely discovered because they had become exhausted and distressed after hours in the confined space.
Reaffirming the Navy’s commitment to national security, Commodore Adams-Aliu said NNS BEECROFT remains aligned with the mission of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, to safeguard Nigeria’s maritime interests through professional and highly motivated operations.