By Nkechi Eze
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has launched an urgent intervention following a distress call in a viral video showing several Nigerians allegedly subjected to inhumane treatment in the Central African Republic (CAR).
In the video, the victims claimed they had been lured to the country under false pretenses, deceived and abandoned in a foreign land. According to them, they were forced to work for 11 months without pay, had their passports seized, and were left stranded with no means of returning home. The group issued an emotional appeal to the Nigerian government to intervene and rescue them from their ordeal.
Responding swiftly to the situation, NIDCOM confirmed that it had immediately contacted the Nigerian Embassy in the Central African Republic to investigate and address the matter. In an official statement issued by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit of NIDCOM, the Commission assured the public that steps were already underway to bring relief to the victims.
“It is gratifying to inform members of the public that contact has been established with the stranded Nigerians, and their seized passports have been retrieved,” the statement read.
Balogun further disclosed that arrangements are currently being made to send a bus to transport the affected individuals to the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui, the capital of CAR. The journey is expected to take at least eight hours. In addition, the agent responsible for deceiving and abandoning the Nigerians has been identified, and further action is expected to follow.
NIDCOM also expressed deep appreciation to officials of the Nigerian Embassy in the Central African Republic for their swift and proactive response in handling the matter.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the welfare of Nigerians abroad and pledged to continue working closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind or forgotten in times of distress.
