The House of Representatives Committee on China-Nigeria Parliamentary Relations has begun a probe into a viral video showing Nigerian workers in the Central African Republic who alleged they were abandoned and mistreated.
In the video, which emerged last Thursday, the miners said they were recruited by a Chinese mining company but were later deserted, had their passports seized, and faced harsh treatment.
The workers urged Nigerians to help amplify their voices and draw attention to what they were going through.
They stated they were stranded in Senye, a village in the Bambari region of CAR.
In response, Committee Chairman Jaafaru Yakubu, in a statement released on Wednesday, showed concern over the incident.
“The committee regrets the unfortunate situation the Nigerian workers are being subjected to in CAR and assures that a comprehensive investigation is currently ongoing to unravel the circumstances that led to their ordeal,” Yakubu noted.
The statement also touched on the involvement of Abdulrauf Ademola, the businessman mentioned in the video.
The committee said Ademola had denied all the accusations of seizing passports, withholding pay, and abandoning the workers.
It also advised the public not to link Ademola’s alleged actions with credible Chinese businesses in Nigeria.
“It is also important to state that Abdulrauf Ademola, the businessman who allegedly abandoned the Nigerians in CAR, had issued a statement refuting the allegations made by the workers who accused him of passport seizure, unpaid salaries, and abandonment in the widely circulated video.
“The committee wishes to inform the general public that Abdulrauf Ademola is not affiliated with the Chinese Embassy or the China General Chamber of Commerce, and his actions or inactions should not be linked to the embassy or Chinese enterprises doing their legitimate businesses in Nigeria,” it said.
Yakubu also used the moment to reaffirm the strong relationship between China and Nigeria, while urging the media and public to ensure balanced and accurate reporting.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government confirmed on Tuesday that the stranded workers had been rescued.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said, “Stranded Nigerian workers in the Central African Republic have been successfully rescued and are currently in the custody of the Embassy of Nigeria in Bangui.
“A very big commendation to the staff of the Embassy and the Government of the Central African Republic for the successful operation.”
Additionally, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols Unit at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, stated, “The stranded Nigerians in the Central African Republic have finally arrived at the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui.
“It will be recalled that through a viral video, some Nigerian miners called for help, and there was immediate intervention and swift response of officials of the Nigerian Embassy and CAR security who accompanied them from their location to the capital,” the statement said.
The statement added that the embassy was now handling the workers’ welfare and planning their return to Nigeria.
“They are now in the safe hands of officials of the Nigerian Embassy, who will arrange their return home.
“They expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and staff of both countries, the Nigerian Embassy, the CAR security agencies and Nigerians who shared their stories,” the statement added.
It also disclosed that the Nigerian recruiter accused of luring the workers into the situation had been identified and is currently in Nigeria.
“The agent who lured them into the job scam is currently based in Nigeria and has been identified and is expected to be prosecuted,” the statement concluded.
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