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Two suspected stowaways have been handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service after they were extracted from a Merchant Vessel, MV SEASPAN LAHORE around Lagos Fairway Buoy.
The suspects identified as Abdullahi Yakubu, 36 years old, (male) a repeat offender and Omoniyi Afotona, 25 years old, (male), were arrested on Thursday morning, 19th March, 2026, while hiding within the rudder compartment of the vessel during routine security checks by NNS BEECROFT personnel.
They were, thereafter, arrested and taken to NNS BEECROFT for profiling and further investigation.
However, the Commander, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu on Monday, 23rd March, 2026, handed them over to Deputy Superintendent of Immigration Eneji Emmanuel Ochokpa of the Lagos Ports/Marine Command, Apapa, Lagos for prosecution.
It was learnt that the suspects were said to have gained unauthorised access to the vessel’s rudder compartment at Apapa Port prior to its departure.
The Nigerian Navy, therefore, called on parents, guardians and persons in authority to educate young men and women that hiding onboard a ship to migrate to a foreign country is illegal and dangerous and against maritime security.
Therefore, Commodore Adams-Aliu called on the Nigerian youths, who nurse migration aspirations, to endeavour to resort to legal means to travel rather than going against the law.
He reiterated that NNS BEECROFT, under his command, would continue to actualize 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 maintaining internal stability.”
It would be recalled that the activities of stowaways – individuals who hide onboard a ship to travel secretly and illegally into another country without authorization – have been a major headache within the security apparatus of the force
