‘We thought we were going to Europe’ — Ghanaian stowaways narrate Lagos ordeal

By Esther Onyegbula

Three Ghanaian nationals who attempted to stow away on a merchant vessel in a desperate bid to reach Europe have recounted their harrowing experience, expressing regret over the dangerous journey after being rescued and handed over to authorities in Lagos.

The trio, Armah Peter, 26; Amisah Daniel, 22; and Amoh Michael, 25, were discovered concealed in the rudder compartment of MT ANATOLIA at Dangote Terminal, Lagos, after spending about five days at sea under life-threatening conditions.

Narrating their ordeal, the young men said they embarked on the risky voyage from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, driven by economic hardship and the hope of finding better opportunities abroad.

Daniel Amisah said the decision was fuelled by his desire to support his ailing mother.

“We thought the vessel was going to Europe, maybe Britain, Canada or Spain. I wanted to work and raise money for my mother, who is sick and hospitalised. We took garri, sugar, water and biscuits with us,” he said.

According to him, they gained access to the vessel at night using a canoe and hid in the rudder compartment before it departed.

“We stayed there for about five days. It was not comfortable. Sometimes we sat, sometimes we tried to move around, but there was no space to lie down properly,” he added.

Amoh Michael, on his part, said the lack of funds to process travel documents pushed them into attempting the illegal route.

“We don’t have money to get passports. Some of our friends used this same route and succeeded, so we decided to try. We didn’t tell our families before leaving,” he said.

He explained that their plan unravelled when they came out of hiding, thinking the vessel had reached Europe.

“When the ship stopped, we thought we had arrived. That was when we came out and the crew saw us. They later called the Navy,” he said.

Also speaking, Armah Peter described the experience as dangerous and disappointing, warning others against attempting similar journeys.

“I wanted to continue my education and get a better life, but this experience has shown me how risky it is. Stowing away is very dangerous. I will advise others not to try it,” he said.

The three men, who said they are from the same extended family, had reportedly lived in Abidjan for about a year, working as fishermen before deciding to migrate.

They were eventually rescued by operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS BEECROFT, and handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further processing and possible repatriation after due legal procedures.

Handing over the suspects, Commander of NNS BEECROFT, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, said the operation underscored the growing collaboration among security agencies to combat illegal migration and ensure safety within Nigeria’s maritime domain.

He explained that the stowaways were safely evacuated from the vessel and transported to the naval base for preliminary investigation and profiling before being transferred to the NIS for further action.

According to him, the Immigration Service would, after due judicial processes, facilitate their transfer to the Ghanaian Embassy.

“A stowaway is a person who conceals himself aboard a vessel with the intent of travelling illegally to another country without authorisation. This handover reflects the Navy’s commitment to supporting inter-agency cooperation in addressing such security concerns,” Adams-Aliu said.

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