FG rescues Nigerian workers abandoned by Chinese employer in Central African Republic

The Federal Government of Nigeria has successfully rescued a group of stranded Nigerian workers in the Central African Republic (CAR), following a public outcry sparked by a viral video showing the men pleading for urgent help after they were allegedly abandoned by their Chinese employer.

The affected workers were reportedly employed by Rado Central Coal Mining Company and left stranded in Bambari, a remote mining town located about 850 kilometres from Bangui, the capital of CAR.

The video, which circulated widely across social media platforms, showed the distressed workers appealing to the Nigerian government to come to their aid, citing dire living conditions and abandonment without pay or travel documentation.

In swift response, the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui launched a rescue mission. According to a statement released on Tuesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassy officials made contact with the stranded nationals, retrieved their travel documents, and arranged secure transportation—with military escort—to bring them to safety in Bangui.

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“The stranded Nigerian workers in the Central African Republic have been successfully rescued and are currently in the custody of the Embassy of Nigeria in Bangui,” said Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the ministry.

Ebienfa praised the timely efforts of the embassy staff and acknowledged the cooperation of the Central African Republic government, which he said was instrumental in ensuring the workers’ safe evacuation.

“A very big commendation to the staff of the Embassy and the Government of the Central African Republic for the successful operation,” he added.

The Ministry has not disclosed how many workers were involved, but the incident has once again raised concerns about the safety and welfare of Nigerians working under foreign contracts abroad, particularly in conflict-prone or unstable regions.

The Federal Government urged Nigerians seeking employment overseas to verify the legitimacy of employers and report any suspicious labour arrangements to appropriate authorities.