The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the successful rescue of Nigerian workers who were stranded in the Central African Republic (CAR).
According to the Ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the workers, who had been held in the Bambari region about 850 kilometers from the capital Bangui, were located and are now in the custody of the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui.
The rescue followed viral footage last week showing the workers accusing their Chinese employer of seizing their passports and abandoning them.
The Ministry engaged with authorities in CAR and the Nigerian Embassy coordinated efforts to retrieve their passports and arrange for their evacuation to Bangui.
A vehicle was dispatched to Bambari for their transportation, and discussions are ongoing regarding their accommodation and welfare in Bangui before repatriation to Nigeria.
Ebienfa praised the Nigerian Embassy staff and the CAR government for their cooperation, emphasizing that the Federal Government is committed to protecting Nigerians abroad and handling such matters with urgency.
He urged Nigerians traveling for work overseas to verify their employers’ credibility and register with Nigerian embassies in their host countries to avoid similar experiences.
The rescued workers will be repatriated to Nigeria as soon as arrangements are finalized.
