Dabiri-Erewa: “This is about justice, dignity, and the fight against irregular migration.”
Nigerian miners stranded in the Central African Republic (CAR) have alleged sexual abuse by their Chinese male employers after months of inhumane treatment in a remote village. The 12 workers were received by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), in Abuja on Friday.
NiDCOM, working with key agencies, evacuated the men from the village to the Nigerian embassy in Bangui and eventually to Abuja. The three-week repatriation ended on Thursday, according to commission spokesperson Abdurrahman Balogun.
Igorigo Freeborn, leader of the group, recounted living in the forest without pay for 11 months. “We were homosexually abused by our Chinese employers in CAR. I am not ashamed to say it. We were treated badly there, but thank God for sparing our lives to tell the stories today,” he said.
Dabiri-Erewa described their ordeal as “inhumane” and assured justice would be pursued. The miners received cash support from NiDCOM and Perchstone & Greys law firm to aid their resettlement.
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