Dare Babalola
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has some Nigerians in a video appealing for help to be evacuated from the Central African Republic (CAR).
Earlier, six Nigerians called for help in a viral video, claiming that a Chinese firm located in Nigeria, Rado Central Coal Mining Company abandoned them in a remote location in the CAR.
The workers revealed that they had not received any salary in over six months despite being in the country for 10 months of working in the location.
They identified the Chinese owners of the company as Mr. Yang and Mr. Wu, both reportedly still in the country.
The workers also said that one Abdulmarouf Ademola Aregbe is the company’s General Manager who brought them to the CAR and has since disappeared.
They accused one Mr Amos of seizing their international passports, thereby making it impossible to leave the country.
However, in a statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NIDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit on Thursday, the commission disclosed that they have located the Nigerians and retrieved their passports.
In the statement titled, “Re: Nigerians in distress in CAR”, the agency said, “Sequel to this, the Commission immediately contacted officials of the Embassy in the CAR to look into the matter.
“It is gratifying to inform members of the public that contact has been established with them, their seized passports retrieved while plans are on to send a bus to convey them to the embassy in Bangui which is at least an eight-hour drive. The agent in question has also been identified.”
The Commission commended the officials of the Nigerian Embassy for their swift action.
