Rescued Nigerian Workers Allege Sexual Abuse by Chinese Employers in CAR

 

Twelve Nigerian men, recently rescued from forced labor in the Central African Republic (CAR), have returned home, sharing harrowing accounts of abuse, including alleged sexual assault by their Chinese employers.  

The group, whose plea for help circulated widely in a viral video weeks ago, was formally welcomed in Abuja on Friday by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).  

Speaking on behalf of the survivors, their leader, Igorigo Freeborn, detailed months of unpaid labor, sexual exploitation, and inhumane treatment.  

“We were subjected to homosexual abuse by our Chinese employers in CAR. I’m not ashamed to say it—I want others to learn from our ordeal,” Freeborn stated in a release by NIDCOM’s spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.  

He added, “They withheld our salaries for 11 months. The conditions were brutal, but we’re grateful to be alive and back home.”  

Freeborn explained that the workers had traveled to CAR nearly two years ago seeking better opportunities, only to face severe hardship. He expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government for its swift response after their plight gained attention.  

“I once doubted Nigeria, but the support we received—from President Tinubu, the Foreign Ministry, the CAR Embassy, NIDCOM, and others—has restored my faith,” he said.  

Following the video’s circulation, Nigerian authorities worked with the embassy in Bangui to relocate the men, provide medical care, and facilitate their repatriation.  

Dabiri-Erewa denounced the abuses as unacceptable, vowing that the government would seek justice. “President Tinubu’s administration will not tolerate the maltreatment of Nigerians abroad,” she affirmed.  

She also encouraged the survivors to speak out against irregular migration, helping others avoid similar dangers.  

To aid their reintegration, NIDCOM offered financial assistance, supplemented by donations from Perchstone and Greys, represented by Toyin Adenugba on behalf of Dr. Tolu Aderemi of the JAALS Foundation.  

The rescued workers include: Igorigo Freeborn, 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.  

NIDCOM pledged to collaborate with relevant agencies to ensure accountability for the alleged perpetrators.