The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft has handed over three suspected Ghanaian stowaways to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) after rescuing them from a merchant vessel, MT Anatolia, in Lagos.
The suspects who were identified as Armah Peter, 26, Amisah Daniel, 22 and Amoh Michael, 25 were discovered hidden inside the rudder compartment of the vessel while it was docked at the Dangote Terminal on March 28, 2026.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday at the NNS BBeecroft headquarters in Apapa, Lagos, the Commander, Commodore Adams-Aliu, revealed that the trio had embarked on a dangerous and unauthorized journey to Europe.
According to him, the suspects had travelled from Ghana to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where they lived and worked as fishermen for about a year before plotting their journey.
He said with the aid of a canoe, they reportedly gained access to the vessel’s rudder compartment prior to departure, exposing themselves to life-threatening conditions at sea.
“Their plan, however, failed when, after several hours onboard, they mistakenly assumed they had reached Europe and alerted the ship’s crew—leading to their discovery and rescue,” he said.
Commodore Adams-Aliu stated that the suspects were safely evacuated and taken to NNS Beecroft for preliminary investigation and profiling before being handed over to the NIS for further action.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service will process the individuals and facilitate their transfer to the Ghanaian Embassy in line with legal and diplomatic procedures,” he said.
He noted that the operation underscores the growing collaboration among security agencies to combat illegal migration and strengthen maritime security within the region.
The Navy also used the opportunity to warn youths across West Africa against engaging in risky stowaway attempts, stressing the grave dangers involved.
Reaffirming the Navy’s commitment, Commodore Adams-Aliu said NNS Beecroft remains resolute in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain in line with the vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff to maintain a professional and responsive force capable of defending national sovereignty and supporting internal stability.
He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue supporting security agencies in the fight against illegal maritime activities.
