Our Chinese Employers Sexually Abused Us, Rescued Nigerian Miners

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) — The 12 Nigerian miners, who were stranded in the Central African Republic (CAR), have accused the Chinese male employers of sexual harassment.

 The 12 miners stated this while they were received by the chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in Abuja on Friday, August 15, 2025. 

They were rescued and repatriated through a joint effort by NiDCOM and key government agencies. 

 This was contained in a statement which was issued by Abdurrahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols at the commission.

The three-week repatriation process began after an initial evacuation from a remote village in CAR, where the Nigerians were stranded, to the Nigerian embassy in Bangui, the country’s capital city, and thereafter to Abuja on Thursday.

Speaking at the NiDCOM office, Igorigo Freeborn, leader of the rescued workers, talked about how the group endured harsh, unsafe conditions in the forest following the abandonment of their recruiters without pay.

Freeborn stated that amid 11 months’ unpaid salaries, “we were homosexually abused by our Chinese employers in CAR.”

“I am not ashamed to say it. I want other people to learn from it. We were treated badly there, but thank God for sparing our lives to tell the stories today.”

 Freeborn begged the Federal Government to help get justice for the ordeal they endured at the hands of their employers.

He also disclosed that he was an unpatriotic citizen who did not “think anything good can come out of the country, but we were all so happy to receive help and succour from Nigeria.”

Dabiri-Erewa, while speaking, described the experience of the miners as inhumane, and she assured that justice would be served as the commission, in collaboration with relevant government agencies, would take up the matter.

She advised the returning miners to be of good behaviour and collaborate with the commission in its advocacy on irregular migration and its consequences.

NiDCOM aided the group with cash support to help in their resettlement until their salaries are paid. Also, Perchstone and Greys, a law firm, gave a cash donation to the miners.

Other rescued workers are Rotimi Kupoluyi, Ajosi Julius, Odeh Collins, Anifowoshe Yekini, Akubo Oluwaseun, Olayemi Peter Adewale, Stephen Abel Otkli, Samuel Ojochenemi, Alih Joel Muhammed, Unekwu Bala and Yusuf Bameyi.

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