The Nigerian Navy has handed over nine suspected stowaways to the Nigeria Immigration Service after they were rescued while allegedly attempting to travel illegally to Europe aboard a merchant vessel.
The suspects were transferred on Friday by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft as part of ongoing collaboration among security agencies to combat illegal migration and strengthen maritime safety and security.
According to a statement by the Commander, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, the suspects were discovered on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, hiding inside the propeller compartment of the merchant vessel, MT EVGENIA.
They were safely evacuated from the vessel and taken to NNS Beecroft for initial investigation and profiling before being handed over to the Immigration Service.
The suspects were identified as Thompson Vincent, 23; Emmanuel Philip, 24; Tobi Olalekan, 32; Omotayo Adebowale, 43; Abdullahi Idowu, 21; Tunde Mustapha, 19; Jamiu Ismaila, 25; Ibrahim Alabi, 30; and Christian Kadiri, 22.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly boarded MT EVGENIA while it was docked at Flour Mills Jetty in Apapa, intending to travel illegally to Europe.
The Navy urged parents, guardians and other authority figures to discourage youths from attempting to board seagoing vessels unlawfully, warning that such actions expose them to serious risks and can have wider consequences along the West Coast of Africa.
Commodore Adams-Aliu said NNS Beecroft would continue to fulfil the mandate of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, by protecting Nigeria’s maritime interests and supporting joint operations aimed at defending national sovereignty and maintaining internal stability.
