Nigerian authorities have arrested five individuals illegally clinging to a ship bound for Spain.

Operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Lagos Seaport Command intercepted the stowaways aboard a vessel en-route Las Palmas following intelligence made available by the master of the vessel about 156 nautical miles (about 289 kilometres) off the Lagos shoreline.

Olubushola Fashakin, the regional Comptroller of the NIS, who received the arrested individuals, cautioned desperate youths from embarking in such risky adventures.

A stowaway is a person who secretly boards a vehicle, such as a ship, an aircraft, a train, cargo truck or bus.

Muhammad Babandede, the national Comptroller General of NIS, congratulated the officers for the arrest.

He also spoke out against unwarranted travels to Europe.

Last week, Ghanaian authorities arrested three Nigerians after they failed in their attempt to stowaway to Spain in a ship.

Spain has in recent years emerged the destination of choice for illegal African migrants desperate to reach Europe.