The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has launched an investigation into reports of abandoned Nigerian miners in the Central African Republic (CAR), following a viral video highlighting their plight.
The video, which surfaced on social media, shows Nigerian workers claiming they were deserted by a Chinese mining company after months of unpaid labor, sparking outrage and calls for diplomatic action.
According to the video, the abandoned Nigerian miners were recruited from Nigeria in September 2024 to work for Rado Central Coal Mining Company, a Chinese firm operating in CAR.
The workers allege they were held in Bangui for four months before being transferred to a remote site in the Bambari region, where they were left without pay or proper documentation.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Embassy said it attaches great importance to the matter and has commenced an immediate investigation to ascertain the facts.
“The Chinese government consistently mandates that all Chinese enterprises and citizens operating abroad strictly comply with local laws and regulations, ensuring that all business operations fully adhere to local legal frameworks,” the statement said.
The Embassy added that it would urge the company involved to handle the matter appropriately and maintain close communication with Nigerian authorities throughout the investigation.
“The Chinese side will work together with relevant stakeholders to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of citizens of both nations,” the statement concluded.
This comes after Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it has begun the process to evacuate Nigerians abandoned in CAR.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ebienfa added that their passports have been successfully recovered and that a vehicle has been dispatched to evacuate them from Bambari to Bangui.
