A group of Nigerian miners stranded in the Central African Republic (CAR) have arrived safely at the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui, following a coordinated rescue effort by embassy officials and CAR security personnel.
The miners, who recently appeared in a viral video pleading for assistance, had been lured to CAR by a Chinese national and a Nigerian agent who allegedly abandoned them without pay for 11 months.
Their journey to the capital was reportedly long and exhausting, leaving them distressed and physically weakened.
In an update on Wednesday, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) confirmed that the miners are now in the care of embassy officials, who are making arrangements for their return to Nigeria.
“The agent who lured them into the job scam is based in Nigeria, has been identified, and will face prosecution,” NiDCOM stated.
Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Publicity, and Protocol, said the miners expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nigerian embassy staff, CAR security agencies, and concerned Nigerians who helped draw attention to their plight.
