NNS Beecroft Hands Over Ghanaian Stowaways to Immigration 

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT handed over three suspected stowaways rescued from the merchant vessel MT ANATOLIA to the Nigeria Immigration Service as part of ongoing efforts to combat illegal migration and strengthen maritime security.

The Commander of NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Aiwyor Adams-Aliu, stated that the suspects were rescued after being found hidden in the rudder compartment of the vessel while it was berthed at Dangote Terminal in Lagos State.

He explained that a stowaway is someone who secretly boards a vessel with the intent to travel illegally to another country without proper authorization, noting that such actions pose serious safety and security risks.

According to the statement, the suspects were discovered on Saturday, March 28, 2026, and were quickly evacuated and taken to NNS BEECROFT for initial investigation and profiling.

Initial investigations identified the suspects as Armah Peter (26), Amisah Daniel (22), and Amoh Michael (25), all male nationals of Ghana, who had attempted to illegally travel to Europe.

“Further investigation revealed that the trio had previously traveled to Abidjan, where they lived and worked in fishing for about a year before accessing the vessel with the help of a canoe before it departed from Ivorian waters,” he said.

“Believing they had reached their destination after several hours at sea, the suspects reportedly alerted the ship’s crew, which led to their discovery and eventual rescue by naval authorities,”he added.

Commodore Aliu noted that handing over the suspects to the Nigeria Immigration Service highlights the cooperation between agencies in fighting illegal migration, while reaffirming the Navy’s commitment under the leadership of Vice Admiral Idi Abbas to protecting Nigeria’s maritime domain and enhancing national security.