Four Stowaway Guys Trying to Escape Hardship in Nigeria Thrown into Atlantic Ocean, Rescued - Photos

By Dansu Peter  FOUR stowaway men were rescued from the Atlantic Ocean after being thrown overboard by the crew of a foreign vessel, in a ha...

By Dansu Peter 

FOUR stowaway men were rescued from the Atlantic Ocean after being thrown overboard by the crew of a foreign vessel, in a harrowing incident that highlights the desperation of many young Nigerians

The young men—James John, Favour Efe, Kingsley Williams, and Kingsley Mathew—had secretly boarded the ship in a desperate bid to flee Nigeria’s worsening economic hardship. Their hopes of reaching a better life abroad took a tragic turn when the ship’s crew discovered them and allegedly responded with violence, throwing them into the open sea.

Their fate might have been sealed beneath the waves if not for the timely intervention of a maritime logistics firm owned by France-based Nigerian entrepreneur, Mr. Harrison Niyi Alonge.

According to a statement released on Thursday, May 22, 2025, by the company's public relations officer, Olawale Ezekiel, the crew of a nearby vessel spotted suspicious activity in the water and raised the alarm. Alonge immediately ordered an emergency rescue mission.

“The crew, led by a captain, detected suspicious movement in the waters and quickly raised the alarm. Acting on their report, Alonge ordered an immediate emergency operation, which led to the rescue of the four victims,” the statement read.

Found clinging to floating debris, weak and barely conscious, the men were pulled from the sea in what rescuers described as a miracle. “They were barely able to call for help. A few more minutes, and it could have been a different story,” said one of the responders.

All four victims were stabilized and are currently receiving medical and psychological care. They have since been handed over to the Nigerian Navy at the Atlas Cove base in Takwa Bay for further support and debriefing.

This tragic episode sheds light on the growing migration crisis fueled by Nigeria’s persistent economic instability, unemployment, and insecurity. Each year, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), hundreds of Nigerians risk their lives on dangerous maritime routes in search of better opportunities—many using illegal and life-threatening means to escape.

As investigations into the incident continue, the story of these four young men serves as a grim reminder of the harsh realities facing Nigerian youth—and the urgent need for long-term solutions to the country’s deepening socioeconomic challenges.