Navy Intercepts Three Stowaways in Ship’s Propeller Compartment

Hope Ajayi September 16, 2026 2 minutes read

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Navy has intercepted three suspected stowaways hiding in the propeller compartment of a merchant vessel off the Lagos coast and handed them over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for further investigation.

The suspects, identified as Isaiah Oyetayo, 30; Goddey Ajinde Samson, 26; and Popoola Felix, 28, were intercepted on Monday, September 14, while the MV Maersk Calabar was sailing around the Lagos Fairway Buoy.

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft Quick Reaction Team at Tarkwa Bay moved to intercept the vessel after receiving a tip-off from the Western Regional Control Centre.

The team subsequently extracted the three men from the vessel’s propeller compartment and took them to NNS Beecroft for preliminary investigation and profiling.

Preliminary findings indicate that the suspects allegedly boarded the vessel earlier that day while it was at Apapa Port.

The Navy said the men reportedly used a canoe to gain access to the merchant vessel before concealing themselves in the propeller compartment. They remained there until the vessel departed the port.

NNS Beecroft handed the suspects over to the NIS on Wednesday, September 16, for further investigation.

The Navy warned that attempting to hide aboard seagoing vessels exposes individuals to potentially life-threatening conditions while also creating safety and security risks for vessels and their crews.

The agency urged parents, guardians and other authority figures to discourage young people from attempting illegal sea travel and to sensitise them to the dangers associated with stowing away on ships.

It also reaffirmed NNS Beecroft’s commitment to supporting efforts to protect Nigeria’s maritime interests and strengthen security within the country’s territorial waters.

The incident highlights the dangers associated with unauthorised access to commercial vessels, particularly when individuals conceal themselves in restricted areas of ships while they are preparing to sail or already underway.