The Federal Government has launched a rescue operation to repatriate a group of Nigerian workers stranded in the Bambari region of the Central African Republic.
The move follows the circulation of a viral video showing distressed Nigerian nationals abandoned by their employers approximately 850 kilometres from the country’s capital, Bangui.
In a statement on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that officials from the Nigerian Mission in the Central African Republic had successfully made contact with the affected citizens.
According to the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui is working closely with local authorities to guarantee the safety and welfare of the stranded individuals, as well as to facilitate their swift return to Nigeria.
“The affected Nigerians have been contacted by our mission, and the embassy is actively engaging relevant authorities to ensure their protection and prompt evacuation,” the ministry said.
It added that their passports had been retrieved and a vehicle had been dispatched to transport them from Bambari to Bangui, with a military escort expected to accompany them on Saturday, July 26, 2025.
Negotiations are ongoing to provide temporary accommodation and support while arrangements for their final repatriation are concluded.
The ministry used the opportunity to remind Nigerians seeking jobs abroad to conduct thorough background checks on prospective employers and ensure their documentation is complete.
The government also advised citizens to always register with the Nigerian Embassy upon arrival in any foreign country to avoid difficulties in the event of emergencies.
