- Four Nigerian stowaways miraculously endured a grueling 14-day journey spanning 3,500 miles as they clung to a ship’s rudder.
- Fueled by fear of being thrown overboard by the crew, they remained hidden throughout the treacherous passage, as reported by Reuters.
- Unfortunately, their hopes of reaching Europe were shattered when they ended up in Brazil instead.
These four Nigerian stowaways embarked on an extraordinary 14-day journey at sea, fearfully clinging to a ship’s rudder, convinced that any sound they made would expose them to being tossed into the unforgiving ocean.
According to Reuters, the men sneaked onto the ship’s rudder at a port in Lagos, Nigeria, hoping to reach Europe. Two of them revealed their aspiration to escape the crime, poverty, and political instability plaguing their homeland.
However, their arduous 3,500-mile voyage did not lead them to Europe, but unexpectedly deposited them in Vitoria, Brazil.
Throughout the harrowing journey, 35-year-old Roman Ebimene Friday, one of the stowaways, disclosed to Reuters that they lived in constant dread of discovery by the crew, who could potentially condemn them to a watery grave just inches above the raging ocean.
“We taught ourselves to never utter a sound, fearing they would throw us overboard if caught,” expressed Friday to Reuters. Initially, Friday also harbored fear that the other unfamiliar shipmates would dispose of him in the same manner. However, he was startled and terrified to find he had companions after being dropped off at the rudder by a fisherman.
Despite enduring starvation and dehydration on their tenth day, the men managed to survive until they were eventually rescued by Brazilian authorities, stated Reuters.
According to the outlet, Friday and another shipmate decided to seek asylum in Brazil, while the other two opted to return to Nigeria.
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