The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has intervened following reports of Nigerian workers allegedly abandoned by a Chinese mining company in the Central African Republic (CAR).
On Thursday, some Nigerians accused a Chinese mining company of abandoning them in the CAR after recruiting them to work in a mining operation.
In a video circulating online, an unnamed man — flanked by five others — claimed the group had worked for six months without pay.
He said the group arrived in CAR last September but were arrested by authorities in Bangui, the capital, and held for four months.
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In a statement, NIDCOM said officials from the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIA) and the Nigerian embassy in Bangui have successfully established contact with the affected individuals, and their passports have been retrieved.
The agency said arrangements have been made to dispatch a bus to transport the group to the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui.
NIDCOM added that the agent responsible for their recruitment has also been identified.
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“After reaching out to officials of the NIA and the Nigerian Embassy in the Central African Republic, we are pleased to confirm that contact has been established with the affected individuals, and their passports have been retrieved,” the statement reads.
“Arrangements are now underway to dispatch a bus to transport them to the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui—a journey of at least eight hours. The agent in question has also been identified.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to the NIA and the Nigerian Embassy for their swift and decisive response.”
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