The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT has handed over five suspected stowaways to the Nigeria Immigration Service after rescuing them from a merchant vessel where they allegedly hid in an attempt to travel illegally to India.
The handover, which took place on Monday, June 22, 2026, followed the rescue of the suspects from MT CHINAFRIE HAPPINESS and forms part of ongoing collaboration among security agencies to tackle illegal migration and strengthen maritime safety and security.
According to the press release signed by SLt AO Ajayi, Naval Assistant to the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT. The five men were discovered on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, concealed inside the rudder compartment of the merchant vessel. They were subsequently evacuated safely and taken to NNS BEECROFT, where preliminary investigations and profiling were conducted.
The Navy identified the suspects as Segun Samuel Boyewa, 31; Kingsley Chukwu, 43; Joseph Judge, 33; Moses Aletor, 24; and Abdullahi Danlami, 31.
Explaining the circumstances surrounding the incident, the Navy noted that further investigations revealed the men had boarded MT CHINAFRIE HAPPINESS while it was berthed alongside Tin Can Island Port with the intention of travelling illegally to India.
Navy Reaffirms Commitment to Maritime Security
The statement also clarified the meaning of a stowaway, describing such a person as “a person who conceals themselves aboard a vessel with the intention of travelling illegally to another country without authorisation.”
The Navy said the handover to the Nigeria Immigration Service underscores the sustained collaboration between relevant security agencies in addressing illegal migration and protecting Nigeria’s maritime domain.
It also urged parents, guardians and other authority figures to discourage young people from attempting to board seagoing vessels illegally, warning that such actions pose serious risks to lives and national security.
Reaffirming its commitment to maritime security, the Commander of NNS BEECROFT said the ship would continue to carry out its mandate in line with the mission of the Chief of the Naval Staff.
“NNS BEECROFT, under my command, will continue to actualise the mission of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal), 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 the maintenance of internal stability,” the statement said.
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