After landing in Brazil, Four Nigerians reveal how they survived 14 days on a ship’s rudder by drinking sea water

In a heart-rending tale of survival and desperation, four Nigerian stowaways shared their harrowing journey through the treacherous Atlantic Ocean, clinging to the rudder of a cargo ship. As they faced the grueling 14-day ordeal, their strength, determination, and will to live were put to the ultimate test.
The courageous men, arrested by Brazilian police upon their rescue, recounted the harrowing experience of running out of food and water on the 10th day at sea. Undeterred by their predicament, they resorted to drinking sea water to stay alive for an additional four days until they were finally rescued in the port of Victoria, Brazil.
The extraordinary 5,600-kilometer (3,500 miles) journey they undertook serves as a poignant reminder of the risks Nigerians are willing to endure to leave their homeland in search of a better life. Thankgod Opemipo Matthew Yeye, a 38-year-old survivor, expressed how terrifying the experience was for him. Despite the hardships faced on board, he was grateful to have survived.

Their initial plan was to reach Europe, but they were shocked to discover they had landed on the opposite side of the Atlantic in Brazil. Two of the men returned to Nigeria at their request, while Yeye and Roman Ebimene Friday, a 35-year-old from Bayelsa state, sought asylum in Brazil, hoping for a chance at a new life.
Friday and Yeye explained that economic hardship, political instability, and rampant crime in Nigeria were the driving forces behind their decision to flee. Yeye, a pastor from Lagos state, narrated how his family lost their home and livelihood due to floods, leaving them with no choice but to seek refuge elsewhere.

For Friday, his treacherous journey began when a friend rowed him up to the Liberian-flagged Ken Wave, docked in Lagos, and left him by the rudder. There, he found three other men waiting, and the fear of the unknown gripped him. They clung to the hope of not being discovered by the ship’s crew, fearing that any misstep could result in being thrown overboard.
To prevent themselves from falling into the perilous waters, the four men ingeniously rigged up a net around the rudder, securing themselves with a rope. The noise of the engine and their uncomfortable positions made sleeping difficult and risky during the two-week-long voyage. Amidst their dire circumstances, they even caught glimpses of majestic marine creatures like whales and sharks from their vantage point.
Their salvation came when they were rescued, bringing immense relief and joy. Reverend Father Paolo Parise, a priest at a shelter in Sao Paulo, who has encountered other stowaways, remarked that the Nigerians’ journey was among the most dangerous and unimaginable he had witnessed.

Their heart-touching story serves as a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who seek a better life and are willing to endure unimaginable hardships for a chance at a brighter future. It also reminds us of the deep and complex struggles faced by people in pursuit of hope, safety, and prosperity.