Abuja: The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s embassy in Bangui, has successfully evacuated 11 Nigerian miners who were stranded in the Central African Republic (CAR). The miners were left without support by their employer in Bambari, prompting a viral social media plea for help.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the rescue operation was completed when a Sky Airlines Boeing 747-200 aircraft, with registration number ET-AXO, landed in Abuja at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, bringing the miners home. Upon arrival, the returnees were taken to the Hajj Terminal for formal reception, immigration clearance, and screening by security agencies.
The miners had shared a distressing video where they alleged abandonment and mistreatment by a Chinese mining company that hired them. The video, which featured six men, aimed to alert Nigerians and the Federal Government to their dire situation in the village of Senye in the Bambari region of CAR.
The returnees were accompanied by the Nigerian Ambassador to CAR, Mr. Babagana Ahmed. At Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, praised the quick inter-agency response. Represented by Air Commodore Kenneth Oyong, she highlighted the role of security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser and the National Intelligence Agency.
Mrs. Umar noted the miners’ hardships, including months without pay, and explained that they were first relocated to the Nigerian ambassador’s residence in Bangui for care before their return was arranged. Once back in Nigeria, they received meals, accommodation, and financial assistance to reconnect with their families.
Ambassador Ahmed confirmed the miners’ rescue after eight months in isolation, detailing the viral video that surfaced on July 24, 2025. The Nigerians had been recruited for mining work but were abandoned in a remote forest area. The embassy, working with CAR authorities and the employer, relocated them to Bangui on July 28 and supported them with essential services.
The mission expressed gratitude to various stakeholders, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the National Security Adviser, for their roles in the evacuation. Ambassador Ahmed emphasized the importance of timely intervention and collaboration in protecting Nigerians abroad.
Among the repatriated miners, Oluremi Peters shared his experience of being stranded in CAR. Peters explained they were recruited by a Nigerian associate and a Chinese national with promises of lucrative work. Arriving in September 2024, they were left idle for months with assurances of forthcoming equipment.