The Nigerian Navy has foiled an attempted illegal migration through Nigeria’s maritime corridor, handing over three Ghanaian nationals rescued from a merchant vessel in Lagos to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation.

The suspects, Armah Peter (26), Amisah Daniel (22), and Amoh Michael (25), were discovered hidden inside the rudder compartment of MT ANATOLIA while the vessel was berthed at Dangote Terminal in Lagos.

Confirming the development, Commander of NNS BEECROFT, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, said the trio were found on March 28, 2026, and safely evacuated before being taken into custody for profiling and preliminary investigation.

Investigations revealed that the suspects had travelled from Ghana to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where they lived and worked as fishermen for about a year before attempting the risky journey to Europe.

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Naval authorities said the men gained access to the vessel’s rudder compartment with the help of a canoe prior to its departure from Ivorian waters, hoping to stow away undetected.

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However, after spending hours at sea and mistakenly assuming they had arrived at their destination, they reportedly alerted the ship’s crew—leading to their discovery.

The Navy described the incident as another example of the growing desperation among youths seeking irregular migration routes, warning of the life-threatening dangers associated with stowing away on ships.

The suspects were formally handed over on April 1, 2026, in a move the Navy said reflects sustained inter-agency cooperation to curb illegal migration and enhance maritime security within Nigeria’s territorial waters.

Reaffirming its stance, the Navy urged parents, guardians and community leaders across West Africa to discourage young people from undertaking such perilous journeys.

Commodore Adams-Aliu also reiterated the commitment of NNS BEECROFT to the directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, stressing the force’s resolve to remain professional and responsive in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain and supporting national security.