The game plan of three boat drivers to enter Europe hiding on the propeller of a Merchant Vessel, has been busted, and their lofty dreams terminated.
Not only were they intercepted by the operatives of the Nigerian Navy around the Fairway Buoy on Lagos waters , they have been handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for the next appropriate action.
Isaiah Oyetayo (30); Goddey Samson(26) and Popoola Felix (28) were reportedly discovered aboard the vessel on Monday, September 14, 2026, following a tipoff to the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Beecroft, about their presence.
“Following a tip-off from the Western Regional Control Centre, the NNS BEECROFT Quick Reaction Team stationed at Tarkwa Bay intercepted the vessel and safely extracted the suspects from its propeller compartment”, the Commander, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Aiwiyor Adams-Aliu, told journalists at a briefing at the NNS Beecroft parade ground, Apapa, Lagos, yesterday..
“They were subsequently conveyed to NNS Beecroft for preliminary investigation and profiling. “Further investigation revealed that the suspects boarded MV Maersk Calabar ,while the vessel was at Apapa Port.
“They reportedly used a canoe to access the vessel before hiding in the propeller compartment.
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“Their presence was discovered after the vessel got underway, leading to the intervention of NNS BEECROFT”
Adams-Aliu, represented by the Executive Officer, NNS Beecroft, Captain Olarewaju Oginni, warned against people emulating the boat drivers warning that such amounted to illegal migration exposing them to potentially life-threatening conditions
“The dangers involved are not limited to Nigeria, as such incidents can have wider implications for maritime safety and security across the West African sub-region.
“ NNS Beecroft, under my command, will continue to actualise the mission of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, 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” he said.
Many Nigerians desiring to get to Europe and escape the hardship at home have made similar attempts in the past,
Cami Ezenwa is a Writer, Editor, Publicist, Biographer and Journalism Trainer
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