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We Thought We’d Die There’ – Rescued Nigerian Miners Recount Ordeal in Central African Republic
A group of Nigerian miners stranded in the Central African Republic (CAR) have successfully made it to the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui, thanks to a coordinated intervention by Nigerian diplomats and local security forces.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The miners had earlier appeared in a viral video pleading for assistance, claiming they were abandoned by a Chinese employer and a Nigerian intermediary who recruited them but failed to pay their salaries for 11 months.
Prompted by the video, officials from the Nigerian Embassy and CAR security swiftly mobilized and facilitated the miners’ relocation to the capital.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocol at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), said the miners arrived at the embassy visibly traumatized, weakened, and emotionally distressed after enduring months of hardship.
“The stranded Nigerians in the Central African Republic have finally reached the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui,” Balogun confirmed.
He noted that the rescue followed “the immediate intervention and swift response of officials of the Nigerian Embassy and CAR security, who escorted the miners from their remote location to the capital.”
According to him, the miners had been victims of exploitation by a Chinese national and a Nigerian agent who lured them to CAR, subjected them to grueling work, and abandoned them without pay.
Balogun said the embassy has since taken the miners into its care and is making arrangements for their safe return to Nigeria.
“They are now in the safe custody of Nigerian Embassy officials, who are working on their repatriation,” he said, adding that the miners have expressed deep gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigerian diplomats, CAR authorities, and fellow Nigerians who amplified their plight.
He also revealed that the Nigerian agent responsible for luring the miners into the exploitative scheme has been identified and is currently in Nigeria. “The individual has been tracked and is expected to face prosecution,” Balogun stated.
The National Vice Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Ceekay Igara, has rejected claims that the party’s strong showing in the 2023 elections was driven solely by its former presidential candidate, Peter Obi.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Igara said the Labour Party has a solid organisational structure that predates the 2023 elections, insisting that its performance was not dependent on a single individual.
He explained that while Obi significantly boosted the party’s visibility and popularity, the foundation that attracted voters was already in place. According to him, Nigerians evaluated multiple political parties before choosing the Labour Party based on its structure and appeal.
Igara also disclosed that Obi’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate was the result of intense internal discussions, noting that several aspirants initially opposed his selection. He said it took intervention from the party’s national leadership to convince other contenders to step down and allow Obi to emerge as the flagbearer.
He further linked the surge in youth participation during the 2023 elections to broader civic awareness, especially the influence of the EndSARS movement, which he said aligned with the Labour Party due to its existing groundwork and messaging.
Commenting on Obi’s reported association with another political platform, Igara said it remains to be seen whether the level of support Obi enjoyed in 2023 can be replicated elsewhere, suggesting that the true impact will become clearer over time.
He maintained that the Labour Party remains focused on strengthening its structure ahead of future elections, stressing that electoral success should be measured beyond popularity, including tangible outcomes such as governorship wins and broader political gains.
A Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, on Monday, April 20, 2026, admitted nine documentary exhibits in an ongoing criminal trial involving former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The exhibits were tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its prosecution of the defendants over allegations of conspiracy, money laundering, and concealment of proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to ₦8.71 billion, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
During the proceedings, the fourth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc, testified that he received official requests from the EFCC for financial records linked to the defendants and several associated companies.
He explained that, in line with his duties, the bank provided both soft and hard copies of account documents relating to entities including Rayhaan Hotels Limited, Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited, Nashab Limited, Golden Age Global Ventures, and Rahamaniyya Properties Limited.
The witness confirmed that nine documents were submitted in compliance with the EFCC’s request and identified them when presented in court.
Following arguments from both sides, the court admitted the documents as Exhibits D1 to D9, despite initial objections from the defence regarding the timing of the documents.
Further testimony detailed various account activities, including opening documents and statements tied to accounts associated with Malami and his law firm. The records reportedly covered transactions spanning from 2012 to 2023.
The witness also confirmed that the accounts were active between 2015 and 2023 and recorded multiple inflows and outflows during that period.
He further outlined several high-value transactions, including transfers from companies linked to the defendants into accounts under review, with some transactions running into hundreds of millions of naira.
The EFCC continued to present financial breakdowns in court, indicating that the alleged transactions formed part of its broader case against the defendants as the trial progresses.
The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 42 suspected illegal miners in connection with the abduction of a traditional ruler, Oba Salman Aweda, in Ifelodun Local Government Area.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
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