The group arrived in Abuja aboard a Sky Airlines Boeing 747-200, registered as ET-AXO, landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday.
By EZEKIEL OBI, Abuja-
In a collaborative effort, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s embassy in Bangui, successfully evacuated 11 Nigerian miners stranded in the Central African Republic (CAR).
The miners, abandoned by their employer in the remote town of Bambari, were brought back to Nigeria after a distressing video pleading for help gained widespread attention online.
The group arrived in Abuja aboard a Sky Airlines Boeing 747-200, registered as ET-AXO, landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday.
They were received at the Hajj Terminal, where they underwent immigration clearance and security screening.
The miners’ plight came to light through a viral video in which they described being neglected and mistreated by a Chinese mining company that had recruited them.
“We were left in a remote village with no support, no pay, and no way out,” said Oluremi Peters, one of the repatriated miners.
The video, filmed in Senye village in the Bambari region, showed the men urging Nigerians to amplify their call for government intervention.
Accompanied by Nigeria’s Ambassador to CAR, Babagana Ahmed, the miners were warmly welcomed in Abuja by NEMA’s Director-General, Zubaida Umar, represented by Air Commodore Kenneth Oyong.
“This rescue operation showcases the strength of inter-agency collaboration and the government’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad,” Umar said through Oyong.
She highlighted the critical roles played by the Office of the National Security Adviser and the National Intelligence Agency in the operation.
The miners endured months of hardship, including unpaid wages, before being relocated to the Nigerian ambassador’s residence in Bangui for care and support.
Upon their return to Nigeria, they received meals, temporary accommodation, and financial assistance to reunite with their families.
“The Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, remains dedicated to ensuring the safety and welfare of Nigerians overseas,” Umar added.
Ambassador Ahmed recounted the embassy’s swift response following the viral video on July 24, 2025.
“Within days, we worked with CAR authorities and the employer to rescue the miners from a forest village 850 kilometers from Bangui,” he said.
The embassy provided food, shelter, medical care, and other essentials until their evacuation on July 28.
Oluremi Peters shared the group’s ordeal, explaining they were lured to CAR in September 2024 by a Nigerian associate and a Chinese national with promises of well-paid mining jobs. “We were idle for four months, waiting for equipment that never arrived,” he said.
The miners faced further challenges, including a 16-day detention by CAR police on suspicion of illegal activities. After their release, they worked briefly on a road project and a mining site but were underpaid, receiving only partial wages despite a promised 450,000 CFA francs monthly.
Frustrated, the miners recorded their plea for help, which Peters credits for their rescue.
“That video changed everything. The Nigerian government and embassy acted quickly to bring us home,” he said, expressing gratitude.
He urged young Nigerians to thoroughly vet overseas job offers, advising, “Don’t rush into opportunities without solid guarantees.”
The successful repatriation underscores the Nigerian government’s resolve to protect its citizens, earning praise as a testament to its commitment to their safety and dignity abroad.
