12 Nigerian miners rescued by NIDCOM from the Central African Republic recount 11-months of mistreatment by their Chinese employers

 12 Nigerian miners rescued by NIDCOM from the Central African Republic recount 11-months of mistreatment by their Chinese employers

Twelve Nigerian miners stranded in the Central African Republic (CAR) have recounted harrowing experiences of ab+se by their Chinese employers.

The workers, evacuated with support from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and other agencies, arrived in Abuja on Thursday after a three-week repatriation process. They were received on Friday by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, NiDCOM chairperson.

Igorigo Freeborn, who led the group, said they endured nearly a year without pay while living in h+rsh forest conditions.

“We were homos+xually ab+sed by our Chinese employers in CAR,” he said. “I am not ashamed to say it. I want other people to learn from it. We were treated badly there, but thank God for sparing our lives to tell the stories today.”

Freeborn added that though he once doubted his country, he was grateful for the rescue: “I was an unpatriotic citizen who did not think anything good can come out of the country, but we were all so happy to receive help and succour from Nigeria.”

Dabiri-Erewa condemned their ordeal as inhum+ne, assuring that justice will be pursued. She urged the men to join NiDCOM in raising awareness against irregular migration.

The miners received cash assistance from NiDCOM to help resettle, while law firm Perchstone and Greys also made a donation.

Those rescued include Rotimi Kupoluyi, Ajosi Julius, Odeh Collins, Anifowoshe Yekini, Akubo Oluwaseun, Olayemi Peter Adewal, Stephen Abel Otkli, Samuel Ojochenemi, Alih Joel Muhammed, Unekwu Bala, and Yusuf Bameyi.