A Nigerian man, identified as Mr. David, has stirred emotions online after recounting his harrowing migration journey from Lagos to Spain back in 1997, during which he and 19 others hid inside a ship's engine room in a desperate attempt to seek greener pastures in Europe.
The emotional story, shared via TikTok by user @yomilistens, has since gone viral. In the video, Mr. David detailed how seven out of the 20 individuals lost their lives during the voyage due to the harsh and inhumane conditions. Their bodies were reportedly thrown into the ocean to prevent the ship’s crew from discovering them.
According to Mr. David, the journey was organized by an engineer working on the ship, who charged each person $1,000 to facilitate the dangerous trip to Barcelona, Spain. Driven by poverty and hope, the migrants paid the sum and endured close to two months trapped in the engine room. Their only sustenance was Agege bread and sachet water.
“I spent one month and three weeks inside that ship, from Lagos to Barcelona seaport. Seven of us died. They threw the bodies into the water so the ship’s crew wouldn’t find out,” Mr. David painfully recalled.
He went on to reflect on his past and shared three major regrets in life. His first, he revealed, was not having access to higher education. Mr. David said his father, a successful fisherman in Port Harcourt with multiple boats and clients, insisted that only one son be educated while the other learned a trade. Out of love for his brother, he gave up his chance at schooling.
“I don’t know why my dad did that. He had the means—five speedboats, canoes, and was supplying fresh fish to the biggest hotel in Port Harcourt. Yet, he denied me education,” he lamented.
His second regret was returning to Nigeria after finally reaching Spain. While in Barcelona, he initially found refuge with a kind Spanish family. However, he was caught and deported after asking a fellow Nigerian about where to find local food. The Nigerian man took him to a restaurant, which was raided by immigration on that very day.
“I was the reason I got caught. I saw a Nigerian guy and asked him where I could get Nigerian food. The day I followed him to the restaurant, immigration raided the place. I was arrested, taken to the Nigerian embassy, prosecuted, and deported.”
Upon his return to Nigeria, Mr. David used the little money he had left to start a small aluminum business, which he still operates today to sustain himself.
The third regret he mentioned was not having a male child. Though blessed with children, he said doctors later confirmed that he was impotent and could no longer father any more kids.
“I’ve tried. Women are important, but not having a son is my third regret,” he shared, adding a final positive note: “One thing that still brings me joy is that I’ve stopped drinking.”
His story has moved many on social media, with users commending his resilience and bravery while calling attention to the harsh realities many Nigerians face in pursuit of a better life.
WATCH VIDEO:
@yomilistens
I only asked for one, but Mr. David opened up with three regrets that still weigh heavily on his heart to this day.
♬ original sound – Yomilistens