We were sexually abused by our Chinese employers – Nigerian men rescued from CAR

Twelve Nigerian miners rescued from the Central African Republic (CAR) recently revealed harrowing experiences of abuse, exploitation, and neglect at the hands of their Chinese employers. The men, repatriated after a viral appeal video, described their ordeal as dehumanizing, including unpaid labor, sexual abuse, and abandonment in a remote mining site without basic necessities.

One of the workers, Igorigo Freeborn, shared that they were owed 11 months' salary and subjected to inhumane treatment for nearly two years. The men expressed gratitude for their rescue and highlighted the support received upon their return to Nigeria.

NIDCOM, along with other government agencies, facilitated their repatriation and condemned the abuse, promising to investigate the matter and take diplomatic action. The returnees were provided with cash relief packages and encouraged to share their stories to warn others about irregular migration.