The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is set to transfer three Ghanaian stowaways arrested by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT to the Ghanaian Embassy after proper judicial procedures.

The suspects were discovered on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in the rudder compartment of the vessel while the ship berthed at Dangote Terminal, Lagos.

They were safely evacuated from the compartment and conveyed to NNS BEECROFT for preliminary investigation and profiling.

Initial findings identified the suspects as Armah Peter, 26, Amisah Daniel, 22, and Amoh Michael (25), all male nationals of Ghana.

Investigations also 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.

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.

After several hours on the sea, believing they had arrived at their intended destination, they alerted the vessel’s crew, leading to their detection and subsequent rescue.

The Commander of Beecroft, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, during the handover of the suspects to the NIS in Apapa, Lagos, yesterday, said that the suspects were rescued from a merchant vessel, MT ANATOLIA.

According to the commander, the handover forms part of ongoing collaborative efforts between security agencies to curb illegal migration and enhance maritime safety and security.

“In this case, the NIS will be responsible for transferring these suspects to the Ghanaian Embassy after proper judicial procedures,” he said.

Adams-Aliu urged parents, guardians and authority figures within the society to advice their youths against attempting to board sea-going vessels illegally.

“As we can see today, this advice extends beyond Nigerian society to neighbouring countries in the West Coast of Africa.

“It is pertinent to note that NNS BEECROFT, under my command, will continue to actualise the mission of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, which is to deploy a highly motivated and professional naval force capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime interests and contributing effectively to joint operations in defence of national sovereignty and maintenance of internal stability,” he added.