Navy arrests 3 stowaways hiding inside propeller compartment of Europe-bound merchant vessel

Thursday, September 17, 2026 - The Nigerian Navy intercepted three boat drivers who hid inside the cramped propeller compartment of a merchant vessel in a desperate attempt to leave Nigeria for Germany. 

The three suspects, Isaiah Oyetayo, 30; Goddey Ajinde Samson, 26; and Popoola Felix, 28, were arrested on Monday, September 14, 2026, after allegedly sneaking aboard the MV Maersk Calabar at Apapa Port and hiding inside its propeller compartment. 

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft yesterday, September 16, handed them over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for further investigation. 

The suspects reportedly used a canoe to gain access to the vessel while it was at the port before concealing themselves in the propeller compartment. Their presence was discovered after the ship got underway, prompting the intervention of NNS Beecroft. 

According to the Navy, the suspects were intercepted following a tip-off from the Western Regional Control Centre. The ship’s Quick Reaction Team stationed at Tarkwa Bay moved in, intercepted the vessel and safely extracted the men from the compartment. 

They were subsequently taken to NNS Beecroft for preliminary investigation and profiling before being handed over to the NIS. 

For Popoola, a boat driver and father of four, the decision to risk his life aboard a moving merchant vessel was driven by what he described as the struggle to survive in Nigeria. 

He said he was heading to Germany in search of better economic opportunities, explaining that the rising cost of living had made it increasingly difficult to provide for his family. 

According to him, his desperation pushed him to consider unconventional means of leaving the country, including using a paddle boat to gain access to the merchant vessel. 

Goddey, also a boat driver and married, said he took the risk because he hoped to secure a better future for himself and his family. 

He said the desire for improved living conditions persuaded him to embark on the dangerous journey, despite the risks involved in hiding aboard a vessel at sea. 

Oyetayo, another boat driver, said his decision was driven by the search for a better life and greater economic opportunities abroad. 

The Navy said the incident underscored the dangers associated with unauthorised access to seagoing vessels, warning that such acts could endanger not only those attempting illegal migration but also vessels, crews and other maritime users. 

The handover, carried out on behalf of the Commander, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, by the Executive Officer, Captain Olanrewaju Olubunmi, also highlighted continued collaboration among security agencies in tackling illegal migration and strengthening maritime security. 

The Navy urged parents, guardians and other authority figures to discourage youths from undertaking dangerous journeys by sea and to sensitise them to the potentially fatal consequences. 

It warned that the risks posed by such activities could extend beyond individual migrants to maritime safety and security across the West African sub-region.