The Nigerian Navy (NN) has handed over three suspected stowaways rescued from a merchant vessel, MT ANATOLIA, to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
A stowaway is a person who conceals self aboard a vessel with the intent of travelling illegally to another country without authorisation.
The handover forms part of ongoing collaborative efforts between security agencies to curb illegal migration and enhance maritime safety and security.
The suspects, according to a statement by Spokesperson of Nigerian Navy, by Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, were discovered on Saturday, March 28, 2026 concealed within the rudder compartment of the vessel while the ship was berthed at Dangote Terminal, Lagos.
They were safely evacuated from the compartment and conveyed to NNS BEECROFT for preliminary investigation and profiling with initial findings identifying the suspects as Armah Peter (26), Amisah Daniel (22), and Amoh Michael (25), all male nationals of Ghana.
Investigations revealed that the suspects had earlier travelled from Ghana to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where they reportedly lived and engaged in fishing activities for about one year.
The trio, with the aid of a canoe, gained access to the rudder compartment of MT ANATOLIA before the vessel departed Ivorian waters, with the intention of travelling illegally to Europe, the statement added.
The Service said that “after several hours at sea, believing they had arrived at their intended destination, they alerted the vessel’s crew, leading to their detection and subsequent rescue.
“Once again, parents, guardians, and authority figures within the society are requested to advice their youths against attempting to board sea-going vessels illegally,” the statement said.
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