Foreign vessel crew members throw four Nigerian stowaways into Atlantic Ocean

May 24, 2025

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Foreign vessel crew members throw four Nigerian stowaways into Atlantic Ocean.

Four Nigerian stowaways were rescued from the Atlantic Ocean after being thrown overboard by the crew of a foreign ship.

The young men, hoping to escape Nigeria’s economic difficulties, secretly boarded the vessel in search of a better life abroad. However, when the crew discovered them, they allegedly reacted violently and cast the men into the sea.

Fortunately, a maritime logistics company owned by Mr. Harrison Niyi Alonge, a business mogul from Ekiti living in France, intervened quickly, preventing a potential tragedy.

Olawale Ezekiel, the company’s public relations officer, shared details in a statement to journalists on May 22, 2025.

He explained that the crew, led by the captain, noticed unusual movements in the water and raised the alarm. Acting on this report, Alonge ordered an emergency operation that successfully rescued the four men.

All four were found alive but traumatized.

They are now in stable condition and receiving appropriate care. Their survival is described as miraculous.

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Ezekiel noted, “They were clinging to debris, weak and barely able to call for help. We acted quickly; if we had waited a few more minutes, they might not have survived.”

The rescued individuals—James John, Favour Efe, Kingsley Williams, and Kingsley Mathew—have been handed over to the Nigerian Navy at the Navy Base Atlas Cove in Takwa Bay for further care and debriefing.

This incident highlights the growing migration crisis in Nigeria, where economic instability, unemployment, and insecurity have pushed many young people to undertake dangerous journeys in search of a better future.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), hundreds of Nigerians attempt risky maritime routes each year, often using illegal and life-threatening methods.

As investigations into this incident continue, attention remains focused on the challenges facing Nigeria’s youth and the urgent need for comprehensive migration and economic reforms.

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