Four Nigerian stowaways have been rescued on the Atlantic Ocean after being thrown overboard by the crew of a foreign vessel.
The young men, seeking greener pastures and escape Nigeria’s economic challenges, had boarded the ship in secret with hopes of reaching foreign shores.
The crew of the vessel, upon discovering the stowaways, allegedly responded with violence, casting the men into the open sea.
The four Nigerians could have drowned and perished in the Atlantic Ocean, if not the timely intervention of Ikere-Ekiti-born France-based philanthropist, Harris Niyi Alonge.
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 philanthropist who is a son of the late Ikere-Ekiti businessman popularly known as ‘Poun-Poun’ said the incident happened on the Atlantic ocean between Cotonou and Nigeria sea said he suspected that the Sailors of the ship upon discovering that some young men were hiding inside their ship decided to throw them into Atlantic ocean which led to their predicament that would have ended their lives.
Alonge who is also into oil and gas construction, personally took it upon himself to rescue the victims who were trying to escape from what they reportedly described as untold hardship in their country, Nigeria for unknown destination outside the shores of the country out of desperation.
Narrating the story, Alonge who is the CEO of the shipping company said that he was on his line of duty last week when he suddenly saw the people from afar jumping into the Sea, and wasn’t sure whether they were thrown into the Sea or they escaped into the Sea themselves but noticed they were were drowning and helpless.
He said: “on sighting them from afar already drowning,we immediately changed the direction of our ship and sailed towards them on high speed as we sensed that they were in danger.
“All four victims were found alive but clearly traumatized. They are now in stable condition and receiving proper care. Their survival is nothing short of a miracle,”
“On getting to them, we did everything possible with the use of our equipment and manpower to ensure that we saved their lives. When we brought them out, initially, they could not talk and were unconscious before we gave them all the necessary first aid and made sure they became conscious”.
The rescued individuals, James John, Favour Efe, Kingsley Williams, and Kingsley Mathew, have since been handed over to the Nigerian Navy at the Navy Base Atlas Cove, Takwa Bay, for further care and debriefing.
“They were clinging to debris, weak and barely able to call for help. We acted quickly. Another few minutes, and they might not have made it.”
