Lagos, Nigeria – The Nigerian Navy ship NNS BEECROFT transferred three men arrested as suspected stowaways aboard the merchant vessel MV MAERSK CALABAR to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for further investigation. The handover took place at a naval base after the suspects were detained on Monday, 14 September while the cargo ship was navigating the Lagos Fairway buoy.
According to Commodore Aiwuyor Adams‑Aliu, commander of NNS BEECROFT, the operation began with a tip‑off from the Western Regional Control Centre. A Quick Reaction Team stationed at Tarkwa Bay was dispatched, intercepted MV MAERSK CALABAR and extracted the three men from the vessel’s propeller compartment. The suspects – Isaiah Oyetayo, 30; Goddey Ajinde Samson, 26; and Popoola Felix, 28 – were taken aboard the navy ship for preliminary investigation and profiling.
Preliminary findings indicate the three accessed the merchant vessel on 14 September while it was docked at Apapa Port. They reportedly used a small canoe to reach the ship and then hid inside the propeller compartment. Their presence was discovered after the vessel set out on its voyage, prompting the navy’s swift intervention.
Commodore Adams‑Aliu warned that unauthorized boarding of seagoing vessels poses life‑threatening risks to the individuals involved and jeopardises the safety of crews and maritime operations. He urged parents, guardians and community leaders to discourage young people from attempting dangerous sea crossings and to raise awareness of the hazards of irregular migration.
The incident underscores the ongoing collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and the Nigeria Immigration Service in tackling illegal migration and safeguarding the country’s waterways. The navy reaffirmed its commitment to the mission of Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, emphasizing the importance of joint operations to protect Nigeria’s maritime interests and maintain stability across the West African sub‑region.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
