The 12 Nigerian workers trapped and abused in the Central African Republic (CAR) have been assured of justice by the chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
It was an emotionally laden moment for the rescued as they narrated how their Chinese employers sexually abused them while working for the miners there, just as succour came with their rescue by the federal government.
A statement issued by the director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, NiDCOM, Abdurrahman Balogun, said the 12 stranded Nigerian men, whose video went viral some three weeks ago, finally arrived in Nigeria and visited the NiDCOM office.
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa received them in Abuja on Friday.
The leader of the rescued workers, Igorigo Freeborn, said it is essential for the world to know that despite owing them 11 months’ salaries, “we were homosexually abused by our Chinese employers in CAR.
“I am not ashamed to say it. I want other people to learn from it. We were mistreated there, but thank God for sparing our lives to tell the stories today.
“I am one of those people who usually abuse Nigeria, and I don’t think anything good can come out of the country, but we were all so happy to receive help and succour from Nigeria.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the CAR Ambassador in Bangui, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), NEMA, Immigration Service and other government agencies for coming to our rescue almost immediately”, he said.
Freeborn said they had suffered a lot in the past 20 months since leaving Nigeria and pleaded with the government to help them redress the injustices meted out to them by their employers.
He recalled how they were left stranded in the forest after work without payment, leaving them starving in harsh and unsafe living conditions. With support from the Presidency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NiDCOM, and the Nigerian mission, they were relocated to Bangui, provided medical care, and eventually brought safely back home.
Welcoming the returnees to Nigeria, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa assured them that justice would be served as the Commission, in conjunction with relevant government agencies, would take up the matter on their behalf.
The NIDCOM boss condemned the acts as inhumane and assured that the matter would be pursued to ensure justice was served, in line with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s citizen diplomacy.
She counselled them to be of good behaviour and partner with the Commission in its advocacy on irregular migration and its consequences.
NIDCOM, through Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, gave some cash support to all the returnees to enable them to settle down while they waited for their unpaid salaries.
She also called on well-meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations to assist the Nigerians in settling back in the country.
A cash donation from Perchstone and Greys, presented by Mr. Toyin Adenugba on behalf of Dr. Tolu Aderemi, secretary to the Board of Trustees of the JAALS Foundation, were given to all the 12 returnees.
Adenugba explained that the support was a demonstration of belief in the evacuees’ potential. It was meant to serve as a seed for rebuilding their lives, supporting their families, and creating new opportunities at home.
Rotimi Kupoluyi, Ajosi Julius, Odeh Collins, Anifowoshe Yekini, Akubo Oluwaseun, and Olayemi Peter Adewale are other rescued workers.
Others were Stephen Abel Otkli, Samuel Ojochenemi, Alih Joel Muhammed, Unekwu Bala and Yusuf Bameyi.
