By Ikpommwosa Odigie
The Federal Government has commenced a rescue operation to evacuate a group of Nigerian workers stranded in the Central African Republic (CAR), following widespread public concern over a viral video showing them appealing for help after being allegedly abandoned by their employer.
The workers, who were reportedly recruited from Nigeria for mining jobs in Bambari a remote town about 850 kilometres from the CAR capital, Bangui claimed they had gone unpaid for months. In the video, they further alleged that a Central African associate of their employer seized their passports, leaving them isolated and unable to return home.
In response, the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui swiftly intervened after being alerted to the situation. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassy officials have successfully established contact with the stranded Nigerians, recovered their passports, and dispatched a vehicle with military escort to transport them safely to Bangui. Their arrival in the capital is expected on Saturday, July 26.
The embassy is also working with the employer to secure temporary shelter and basic welfare for the workers in Bangui while preparations for their repatriation to Nigeria are underway.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting the lives and dignity of Nigerian citizens abroad. He urged Nigerians seeking employment overseas to verify the credibility of job offers and to register with Nigerian missions in their host countries to ensure they can be located and assisted in emergencies.
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