The Nigerian Navy intercepted three suspected stowaways aboard the vessel MSC STELLA off the Lagos coastline following a rapid response operation on Sunday
The Nigerian Navy caught and rescued three suspected stowaways aboard the merchant vessel MSC STELLA off the Lagos Fairway Buoy.
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The operation was launched following credible intelligence received from the Western Regional Control Centre at approximately 5:05 p.m. regarding the presence of unauthorised persons on the vessel.
Captain A Florunsho, the Director of Naval Information, confirmed in a statement that the Quick Response Team of NNS BEECROFT was immediately deployed from Tarkwa Bay.
The Nigerian Navy personnel successfully extracted the suspects approximately five nautical miles off the Lagos coastline.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the individuals illegally boarded the vessel at roughly 1:00 a.m. on Friday, 17 April 2026, while the ship was berthed at Tin Can Island Port.
Nigerian Navy identified the suspects as Aguru Michael, a 27-year-old national of the Benin Republic; Soye Monday, 25, from Ondo State; and Kentobou Peter, 22, from Delta State.
The statement noted that the men reportedly intended to stow away to Europe.
This interception serves as a formidable example of the ongoing efforts to secure the nation’s territorial waters against irregular migration and maritime crimes.
The rescue of Aguru Michael, Soye Monday, and Kentobou Peter follows several high-profile search and rescue missions conducted by the service this year. These include the recent rescue of seven individuals in Bayelsa and the handover of three foreign stowaways found aboard the MT ANATOLIA in March.
The suspects are currently in the custody of NNS BEECROFT. Officials confirmed that the individuals are undergoing thorough investigation and administrative processing in accordance with established laws.
The Navy’s reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining a robust operational tempo to ensure maritime safety.
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The service continues to prioritise effective search and rescue operations to combat illegal activities across the maritime domain.
Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
