By Barth Ikiebe
A group of Nigerian miners, who were stranded in the Central African Republic, have safely arrived at the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui, following a joint intervention by the Nigerian mission and local security agencies.
The miners had earlier called for help through a viral video, alleging abandonment by a Chinese national and a Nigerian agent who had hired them for work and failed to pay their wages for eleven months.
Their appeal prompted swift action from officials of the Nigerian Embassy and CAR security, who facilitated their relocation to the capital.
A statement by the Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols Unit at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abdul-Rahman Balogun, says the miners were left traumatised, weak, and distressed after months of hardship.
He said, “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 intervention and 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 remuneration for eleven months”.
According to the statement, the miners are now under the care of embassy officials, who are making arrangements for their return to Nigeria.
“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 Nigerian Embassy, the CAR Security agencies and Nigerians who shared their stories, ” the statement added.
Balogun stated that the Nigerian agent accused of luring them into the job and abandoning them has been identified and is currently in Nigeria.
“The agent who lured them into the job scam, is currently based in Nigeria and has been identified and is expected to be prosecuted, ” he noted.
