A group of Nigerian miners stranded in the Central African Republic (CAR) have safely arrived at the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui.
This development follows a viral video appeal for help from the miners, which prompted an immediate and swift intervention from officials of the Nigerian Embassy and CAR security forces.
According to a statement by NIDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the miners were reportedly victims of an alleged job scam orchestrated by a Chinese national and a Nigerian agent.
They had been hired for work in CAR but were abandoned without pay for 11 months, leaving them traumatised, weak, and distressed.
The statement reads: “The stranded Nigerians in Central Africa Republic CAR have finally arrived at the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui.
“It will be recalled that through a viral video, some Nigerian miners called for help and there was immediate interventioand swift response of officials of the Nigerian Embassy and CAR security who accompanied them from their location to the capital.
“The journey to Bangui took a number of days with 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 renumeration for 11 months, obviously traumatised, weak and distressed, they had called for help to be rescued.
“They are now in the safe hands of officials of the Nigerian Embassy who will arrange their return back home.
They expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu , the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and staff of both countries , the Nigerisn Embassy, the CAR Security agencies and Nigerians who shared their stories
“The agent who lured them into the job scam, is currently based in Nigeria and has been identified and is expected to be prosecuted.
“The elated victims expressed their appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Amb. Babagana Ahmed in Bangui and Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa for promptly responding to their call for rescue.”