FG rescues 11 stranded miners from CAR

The Federal Government has successfully evacuated 11 Nigerian miners stranded in the Central African Republic (CAR) after being abandoned by their employer in the remote town of Bambari.

The rescue operation, coordinated by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s embassy in Bangui, followed a viral distress video showing the miners pleading for help.

The footage, posted on July 24, 2025, revealed their location in Senye village, deep in the Bambari region, where they endured months of hardship without pay.

A Sky Airlines Boeing 747-200 aircraft carrying the returnees landed at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday.

From the international wing, they were taken to the Hajj Terminal for formal reception, immigration clearance, and screening by security agencies.

NEMA Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, represented by Air Commodore Kenneth Oyong, praised the swift inter-agency response involving the Office of the National Security Adviser, the National Intelligence Agency, and other stakeholders.

She said the miners were first relocated to the Nigerian ambassador’s residence in Bangui, where they received care before their return home.

The Nigerian Ambassador to CAR, Babagana Ahmed, confirmed that the miners had been stranded for eight months, about 850 kilometres from Bangui. They were rescued on July 28 after intervention by the embassy, CAR authorities, and the employer.

Since then, the embassy has provided them with accommodation, food, and medical care.

One of the returnees, Oluremi Peters, narrated how they were lured to CAR in September 2024 by a Nigerian associate and a Chinese national with promises of lucrative mining jobs.

They were left idle for months, arrested by CAR police on suspicion of illegal activities, and detained for 16 days before eventually working at a mining site, where they faced payment disputes.

Peters said they were promised 450,000 CFA francs per month but received only partial wages.

He credited the viral video with prompting the swift intervention and thanked the Nigerian government and embassy for securing their release.

Peters advised Nigerians to verify overseas job offers before travelling, warning against falling victim to exploitation.

The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad, with officials hailing the rescue as proof of its readiness to act promptly in safeguarding citizens in distress overseas.