Eleven Nigerian miners rescued from the Central African Republic (CAR) have shared harrowing accounts of their months-long ordeal, while calling on the federal government to help recover their unpaid salaries. The miners, reportedly lured to CAR by a Nigerian agent working with a Chinese national, were stranded for nearly a year without pay despite being hired for mining work.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, Mr. Freeborn Igorigo, representing the returnees, described life-threatening conditions in the CAR forest, including threats from armed soldiers, physical assaults, unwarranted imprisonment, and prolonged deprivation. Some miners also suffered medical complications due to hazardous exposure and accidents while working. Igorigo, who recorded the viral video that alerted authorities to their plight, explained that while Chinese workers were evacuated, Nigerian miners were deliberately left behind under dangerous and isolated conditions.
The rescue was coordinated by Nigeria’s ambassador to CAR, the National Security Adviser’s office, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The miners were safely brought back to Abuja, where they were received by a federal delegation led by NEMA officials.
Despite their safe return, the miners are yet to receive nearly nine months of unpaid wages. Igorigo emphasized that rescue is only the first step, urging authorities to hold the employers accountable to prevent future exploitation of Nigerian workers abroad. He called on the DSS, the Ministry of Mines, and the federal government to intervene and ensure that all owed salaries are fully paid.
