It was an emotionally charged moment as 12 rescued Nigerian workers recounted the harrowing experiences they endured under Chinese employers in the Central African Republic (CAR).
The men revealed that they were sexually abused while working for mining companies, a situation that persisted until their recent rescue by the federal government.
The 12 stranded Nigerians, whose ordeal went viral three weeks ago, finally returned home and paid a courtesy visit to the office of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) in Abuja on Friday, August 15. They were warmly received by the NIDCOM Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
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Igorigo Freeborn, the leader of the rescued workers, disclosed the gravity of their suffering, stating, “We were homosexually abused by our Chinese employers in CAR. Despite being owed 11 months of salaries, I am not ashamed to speak out. I want the world to know our experiences so that others can learn from them.”
He added, “We were treated terribly there, but we thank God for sparing our lives and allowing us to share our story today. I am usually critical of Nigeria, often doubting the good that can come from this country, but we were all overjoyed to receive assistance and support from our government.”
Freeborn further expressed gratitude to the federal authorities for their swift intervention, saying, “Let me use this opportunity to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the CAR Ambassador in Bangui, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), NEMA, Immigration Service, and other government agencies for coming to our rescue almost immediately.”
