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Reps probe Nigerian miners’ abuse claim in CAR

Published

11 months ago

July 31, 2025

The House of Representatives Committee on China-Nigeria Parliamentary Relations has launched an investigation into a viral video showing some Nigerian workers in the Central African Republic, alleging abandonment and ill treatment.

In the video, which surfaced last Thursday, the miners claimed they were recruited by a Chinese mining company but were later abandoned, had their passports confiscated, and were subjected to inhumane treatment.

The workers appealed to Nigerians to amplify their message and draw attention to their situation.

They said they were stranded in Senye, a village in the Bambari region of CAR.

Reacting, the Chairman of the committee, Jaafaru Yakubu, in a statement on Wednesday, expressed concern over the situation.

“The committee regrets the unfortunate situation the Nigerian workers are being subjected to in CAR and assures that a comprehensive investigation is currently ongoing to unravel the circumstances that led to their ordeal,” Yakubu noted.

The statement also addressed the role of Abdulrauf Ademola, the businessman accused in the video.

According to the committee, Ademola had denied all allegations of passport seizure, non-payment of wages, and abandonment.

The committee urged the public not to associate Ademola’s alleged actions with legitimate Chinese businesses operating in Nigeria.

“It is also important to state that Abdulrauf Ademola, the businessman who allegedly abandoned the Nigerians in CAR, had issued a statement refuting the allegations made by the workers who accused him of passport seizure, unpaid salaries, and abandonment in the widely circulated video.

“The committee wishes to inform the general public that Abdulrauf Ademola is not affiliated with the Chinese Embassy or the China General Chamber of Commerce, and his actions or inactions should not be linked to the embassy or Chinese enterprises doing their legitimate businesses in Nigeria,” it said.

Yakubu also used the opportunity to reaffirm the strength of China-Nigeria ties, while appealing to the media and public to ensure accurate and balanced reporting.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government, on Tuesday, confirmed the rescue of the stranded workers.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, in a statement, said, “Stranded Nigerian workers in the Central African Republic have been successfully rescued and are currently in the custody of the Embassy of Nigeria in Bangui.

“A very big commendation to the staff of the Embassy and the Government of the Central African Republic for the successful operation.”

Also, a statement by the Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols Unit at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said, “The stranded Nigerians in the Central African Republic have finally arrived at the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui.

“It will be recalled that through a viral video, some Nigerian miners called for help, and there was immediate intervention and swift response of officials of the Nigerian Embassy and CAR security who accompanied them from their location to the capital,” the statement said.

It added that the miners were under the care of embassy officials, who were making arrangements for their return to Nigeria.

“They are now in the safe hands of officials of the Nigerian Embassy, who will arrange their return home.

“They expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and staff of both countries, the Nigerian Embassy, the CAR security agencies and Nigerians who shared their stories,” the statement added.

It stated that the Nigerian agent accused of luring them into the job and abandoning them had been identified and is currently in Nigeria.

“The agent who lured them into the job scam is currently based in Nigeria and has been identified and is expected to be prosecuted,” the statement concluded.

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No child’s future should be defined by poverty – Emir Sanusi

Published

18 hours ago

June 11, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has called for urgent and long-term action to address poverty and inequality in the North-West.

According to him, no child’s future should be determined by the circumstances of their birth.

He made the statement while delivering a keynote address at the High-Level North-West Policy Dialogue held in Kano State, where he urged leaders to focus on practical solutions rather than speeches and promises.

“The measure of any society is found in how it expands opportunity and protects the vulnerable. No child’s future should be foreclosed by the poverty of their birth.”

Sanusi warned that poverty in the region remains deeply rooted and is reflected in poor education outcomes, weak health systems, and high levels of child malnutrition and unemployment.

He said addressing the crisis requires strong political commitment and consistent investment in people, especially children and young people.

Among his key recommendations was a call for the creation of a long-term social investment framework in each state, with protected budget lines for health, education, social protection, and youth development.

He also proposed a minimum social package that guarantees basic services for citizens at different stages of life, from early childhood to adulthood.

Sanusi stressed the importance of early childhood development, saying the first years of life are critical to a child’s future learning and wellbeing.

He urged states to invest more in nutrition, early learning, and parental support, adding that what happens in those early years determines what a child becomes.”

The Emir also recommended stronger programmes for out-of-school children, adult literacy, and youth skills development to reduce unemployment and improve livelihoods.

He further called for better use of traditional institutions in community data gathering and programme delivery, saying they are closer to the people and understand local needs better.

Sanusi also pushed for improved accountability, urging governments in the region to publish results of social investments and track progress annually.

He warned that without honest leadership and sustained action, poverty in the region would continue to deepen and affect future generations.

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US launches global crackdown on illegal ‘birth tourism’, revokes visas in Africa

Published

19 hours ago

June 11, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The United States Department of State has intensified enforcement actions against what it describes as illegal “birth tourism” schemes aimed at securing American citizenship for children through visitor visas.

This was disclosed in a statement posted via the department’s official X handle on Wednesday.

“Under President Trump, the State Department is defending the integrity of U.S. citizenship by ending illegal birth tourism schemes.

“No foreigner is permitted to obtain a visitor visa for the primary purpose of acquiring U.S. citizenship for a child by giving birth in the U.S.

“A U.S. embassy in West Africa uncovered a sophisticated birth tourism network involving more than 100 foreign nationals using fraudulent documents and visa ‘fixers’ to obtain visas in order to secure U.S. citizenship for their children.

“We shut it down, revoked these foreign nationals’ visas, and are coordinating with local authorities to systematically identify and dismantle similar operations.

“In Europe, a U.S. embassy identified more than 400 suspected birth tourism cases since 2024. Investigators traced them to at least six companies that coached applicants on what to say during their visa interviews, arranged U.S. housing, and set up delivery plans.

“We shut it down, revoked their visas, and permanently banned several fraudsters from travelling to the United States.

“One U.S. embassy in North Africa revoked more than 100 visas issued to ‘birth tourist’ parents who came to the United States primarily to give birth so their children could obtain U.S. citizenship.

“Consular officers, working with law enforcement and using data analytics, identified several networks abusing the system and put a stop to them.

“A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. The State Department is taking action around the world to stop this abuse, dismantle birth tourism networks, and hold accountable those who try to scam our system,” the statement said.

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Explosions hit major cities as US launches new strikes on Iran

Published

19 hours ago

June 11, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The United States early Thursday launched air strikes on Southern Iran causing explosions in the major Iranian cities.

Iranian media reports that five enemy projectiles hit a site in the Kargan area of the city of Minab in southern Iran.

According to Iranian media, explosions were also reported in Bandar Abbas, while there were blasts and air defense activity in Jask, Qeshm, and Sirik in the Hormozgan province.

These cam as the US Central Command, CENTCOM, announced that American forces had begun launching additional self-defense strikes against multiple targets in Iran.

CENTCOM said President Donald Trump ordered the strikes in response to what it described as Iran’s continued aggression.

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