By Nkechi Eze
A group of stranded Nigerian miners in the Central African Republic (CAR), who had earlier cried out for help in a viral video, have finally arrived at the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui, the country’s capital. The successful evacuation was made possible through the swift intervention of officials of the Nigerian Embassy in CAR, in collaboration with local security agencies who escorted the distressed nationals from their remote location to safety.
This development was confirmed in an official statement issued by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM). According to the statement, the journey to Bangui spanned several days and was marked by visible signs of trauma and exhaustion on the faces of the victims.
The affected Nigerians were reportedly lured into the country by a Chinese national and a Nigerian agent under the pretense of securing mining jobs. However, the men were abandoned for over 11 months without remuneration, proper care, or any means to return home. Their ordeal became public knowledge when they released a viral video appealing for urgent assistance.
“The Nigerians, victims of a Chinese national and a Nigerian agent who hired them for work in that country and abandoned them there without paying their remuneration for 11 months, were obviously traumatised, weak, and distressed when they called for help to be rescued,” the statement noted.
Their call for help prompted swift diplomatic action, with Nigerian Embassy officials and CAR security operatives quickly mobilising to locate and retrieve the group. They are now being catered to by embassy personnel, who have begun making arrangements for their safe return to Nigeria.
The rescued Nigerians expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of both Nigeria and CAR, officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui, the CAR security agencies, and fellow Nigerians whose support and online advocacy brought their plight to the forefront.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian agent implicated in the job scam has been identified and is currently in Nigeria. Authorities have confirmed that he is expected to face prosecution for his role in the exploitation and abandonment of the miners.
The Nigerian government, through NiDCOM and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed its commitment to the protection and welfare of its citizens abroad, warning against falling prey to fraudulent overseas job offers.
