A Nigerian family has raised serious concerns over the mysterious disappearance of a marine engineer, Ekikere Monday Sampson, who went missing under unclear circumstances aboard a vessel in late December 2025, alleging negligence, possible foul play, and a sustained cover up by his recruiters and employers.
Sampson, who was deployed in August 2025 through Wrightlinks Logistics Services Limited, was working aboard MT SATYA, a vessel reportedly operated under DeepFrontLine for Sterling Global.
According to accounts gathered by SaharaReporters, the last confirmed contact with Sampson occurred on December 25, 2025. Less than 24 hours later, his family was informed that he had gone missing at sea.
Conflicting explanations initially emerged from individuals linked to the company. One version suggested he may have jumped overboard, while another claimed he might have escaped using a smaller commercial boat. However, the family says none of these claims has been supported with credible evidence.
What remains undisputed is that Sampson was discovered missing in the early hours of December 26 after failing to report for his scheduled duty shift between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Attempts to reach him via the ship’s intercom were unsuccessful, and a search of his cabin confirmed his absence. A subsequent vessel wide search yielded no trace of him.
The family says certain details surrounding the incident have raised further suspicion. They were informed that fingerprints believed to be Sampson’s were found on a tire attached to the ship’s structure, alongside slipper marks on a railing, suggesting someone may have climbed overboard. At the time, the vessel was reportedly in motion in deep waters.
Despite these indicators, no definitive conclusion has been reached.
Adding to the mystery are accounts of Sampson’s final conversations with his elder sister, Akanimo Sampson Oriowo, which suggest he was under severe emotional distress in the days leading up to his disappearance.
On December 24, he reportedly called her in a highly agitated state, expressing fear over debts owed to colleagues onboard, including two naval personnel. He disclosed that he had borrowed a total of ₦350,000, which he lost to gambling, a relapse into a previously treated addiction.
According to his sister, he complained of harassment and mounting pressure from creditors, repeatedly expressing helplessness. During the call, he was briefly interrupted by an intercom alert, after which his distress reportedly worsened. He allegedly claimed that those pressuring him were the ones calling through the ship’s system.
His final words, according to the family, were ominous: “I don’t know how this one will pass.”
The following day, he appeared calmer during another conversation but admitted that the situation remained unresolved. He was never heard from again.
The conduct of Wrightlinks Logistics Services Limited has since come under scrutiny. The family accuses the company of evasiveness and inconsistencies in its handling of the case.
They noted that the initial notification of Sampson’s disappearance was not made directly to his pregnant wife but relayed through a younger sibling. The recruiter, identified as Joseph Umoren, reportedly said this was to avoid causing distress.
During a subsequent meeting, Umoren allegedly introduced unverified claims about Sampson’s behaviour, including allegations of habitual borrowing, emotional instability, and hallucinations assertions the family believes were intended to deflect attention from the circumstances of his disappearance.
Further concerns were raised after a lawyer engaged by the family reportedly discovered that the company’s listed office address corresponded to a restaurant, casting doubt on its legitimacy.
At a formal meeting on January 5, 2026, company representatives claimed they had visited the vessel and interviewed crew members. They disclosed that CCTV footage captured Sampson around midnight, standing and looking into a camera.
According to the family, the company stated that surveillance cameras did not cover all exit points, that an unidentified object was seen in the water in some footage, and that no life jackets were missing. Sampson’s personal belongings, including his passport and professional certificates, were reportedly found intact in his cabin.
Despite repeated requests, the family says they have been denied access to the CCTV footage, allegedly pending approval.
The company also indicated that a three day search operation was conducted without recovering a body. The family, however, questions the adequacy of the search, citing standard maritime protocols for man overboard incidents.
Although the company claimed its legal team had petitioned the police, the family says there has been no visible progress or communication from law enforcement authorities. They also allege that they have not been invited to provide formal statements, despite being directly affected.
Repeated follow ups, they say, have been met with vague assurances that investigations are ongoing.
“I believe he was murdered and thrown overboard,” a relative told SaharaReporters.
The emotional toll has been profound. Sampson’s wife, who was heavily pregnant at the time of his disappearance, has since given birth after years of fertility struggles and multiple miscarriages. The child, now one month old, has never met his father.
His sister said her husband had to stand in as a father figure during the child’s naming ceremony, while their elderly parents continue to grapple with the uncertainty surrounding his fate.
When contacted for comment, the crewing officer, Joseph Umoren, said he was not in a position to speak on the matter and referred inquiries to his superiors, but did not provide further contact details.
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