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A group of Nigerian citizens, who found themselves stranded in a remote part of the Central African Republic (CAR) after being lured by a fraudulent job agent, have finally returned home following a “long, torturous journey.”
The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, confirmed their harrowing experience and stated that the complicit agent has been identified and will be prosecuted.
Speaking on News Central TV, Dabiri-Erewa described the disheartening condition in which the Nigerians were found.
The incident, which came to light around July 23, prompted an immediate response from the Nigerian government.
“We say a big thank you to Mr. President, who said, Those guys must be rescued, when he saw the distress call,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
The rescue operation took several days due to extremely poor road conditions, requiring an escort from CAR security personnel, whom NIDCOM extended gratitude to for their support.
The Nigerian embassy in CAR also played a crucial role, with the ambassador providing care for two individuals who fell seriously ill before their repatriation.
Dabiri-Erewa emphasised that the agent responsible for taking the citizens to the CAR is now in Nigeria and will face legal action.
“He should be prosecuted. He’s been identified,” she stated. NIDCOM intends to use this case, referring to the agent as “Matthew Choke, prosecuting,” as an example to deter similar deceitful practices.
The NIDCOM CEO urged Nigerians to be wary of promises of jobs abroad that often turn out to be nonexistent, especially when agents demand money up front.
“These jobs are a lie. These jobs are not there. They are nonexistent. Meanwhile, the agent has collected money,” she warned, highlighting the exploitative nature of such schemes.
