“Rescued Nigerian Miners Recount Shocking Ordeal With Chinese Employers”

Twelve Nigerian miners in the Central African Republic (CAR), whom the Nigerian government rescued last month, have recounted the horrible ordeal they endured while working for their Chinese employers.

Last month, the attention of the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) was drawn to a viral video of some miners who had been left stranded in the forest by their employers after nearly two years of hard labour.

The commission, with the help of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Immigration, and the CAR ambassador in Bangui, quickly intervened in the matter and ensured that the miners were safely evacuated from the deserted location.

Nearly one month after their rescue, the miners have returned to Nigeria and have recounted the horrid experiences they endured during their 20 months of work. In addition to being abandoned in the forest with no pay for 11 months, the miners also detailed the abuse they were forced to deal with.

One of the rescued miners, Igorigo Freeborn, said, “We were homosexually abused by our Chinese employers in CAR. I am not ashamed to say it. I want other people to learn from it. We were treated badly there, but thank God for sparing our lives to tell the stories today.”

He also went on to express gratitude for their rescue, stating,” I want to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Ambassador in Bangui, NIDCOM, NEMA, Immigration, and all other agencies that helped us.”

Freeborn, who was speaking on behalf of the miners, pleaded with the Federal Government to help them pursue justice on the matter.

During a scheduled visit with the miners at the NIDCOM office in Abuja, the chairman of the commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, assured the men that the commission and other relevant agencies would follow up to ensure that the injustice is properly addressed and redress obtained.

As a form of rehabilitation, the workers were offered cash donations by NIDCOM and Perchstone and Graeys law firm, to enable them to support their families and rebuild their lives in Nigeria.

Hon. Dabiri-Erewa equally pleaded with corporate organizations in Nigeria to show support for the miners by providing them with job opportunities that would contribute to their rehabilitation efforts.

Speaking on how to curb these problems and stop other Nigerians from falling victim to such situations, the chairman urged the miners to join the commission’s advocacy campaigns against irregular migration by leveraging their experiences to warn others of the dangers.

The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has also shown its readiness to address the issue, saying, “We have also just noted the relevant reports and attach great importance to this matter. We will immediately commence an investigation.”