Navy arrests 5 stowaways concealed aboard India-bound merchant ship

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT has intercepted five stowaways on a merchant ship and handed them over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

Sub-Lieutenant AO Ajayi, Naval Assistant to Commander NNS BEECROFT, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, June 22, 2026 said the suspects were found concealed within the rudder compartment of the vessel, MY CHINAFRIE HAPPINESS, which was travelling to India from the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos. 

"On Monday 22 June 2026, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT handed over five suspected stowaways rescued from a merchant vessel, MT CHINAFRIE HAPPINESS, to the Nigeria Immigration Service,” the statement read.

"For clarity, a stowaway is a person who conceals themselves aboard a vessel with the intention of travelling illegally to another country without authorization. 

"The handover forms part of ongoing collaborative efforts among security agencies to curb illegal migration and enhance maritime safety and security.

"The suspects were discovered on Wednesday 17 June 2026, concealed within the rudder compartment of the vessel. 

"They were safely evacuated and conveyed to NNS BEECROFT for preliminary investigation and profiling. 

"Initial findings identified the suspects as Segun Samuel Boyewa (31), Kingsley Chukwu (43), Joseph Judge (33), Moses Aletor (24), and Abdullahi Danlami (31).

“Further investigations revealed that the suspects boarded MT CHINAFRIE HAPPINESS while the vessel was berthed alongside Tin Can Island Port with the intention of travelling illegally to India.”

The Commander of the NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams Aliu, urged parents, guardians and community leaders to discourage young people from engaging in dangerous and unlawful attempts to board seagoing vessels in pursuit of irregular migration.

“It has now become important for parents, guardians, and other authority figures within society to discourage youths from attempting to board seagoing vessels illegally," Aliyu said. 

“Finally, it is pertinent to note that 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.”