Buzzapp Master 
Authorities confiscated her passport, denied her permission to leave, and subsequently forced her into farm labour to “pay” for daily accommodation.
Three Nigerian nationals are currently stranded in Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, which borders Central Asia’s Tian Shan range, and are making desperate appeals to the Nigerian government for urgent repatriation assistance.
The Nigerians, identified as Obi John Ikechukwu from Enugu State, Olaitan Sekinat Tiamiyu from Ogun State, and Aisha Morenikeji from Oyo State, have alleged severe human rights abuses, including forced labour under inhumane conditions.
Olaitan, who spoke with SaharaReporters in a distress call, said she travelled from Nigeria to Kyrgyzstan on March 10, 2025, in search of better opportunities. According to her, she paid over ₦4 million to a travel agent who promised her a teaching job with a monthly salary of $800.
However, upon arrival, she was shocked to discover that she had been brought into the country under the pretence of joining a football club, an arrangement she had no prior knowledge of.
“What I met upon getting to Kyrgyzstan was totally different from what my agent promised. There was no teaching job. Instead, we were abandoned and left to fend for ourselves under harsh conditions,” she stated.
Olaitan further explained that her situation worsened when she attempted to return to Nigeria. During her exit visa application process, Kyrgyz immigration officials flagged her passport due to a red alert placed on the agent who facilitated her travel.
Authorities confiscated her passport, denied her permission to leave, and subsequently forced her into farm labour to “pay” for daily accommodation.
“We are three Nigerians here in Bishkek facing the same issue. I have cooperated with the authorities and told them I had no knowledge of the agent’s criminal activities. I just want to go home,” she pleaded.
She added that she pays 700 Kyrgyz som daily for accommodation—equivalent to about ₦12,600 or approximately $7.93—a cost she can no longer afford. “They said they wanted to help me earn money to pay for accommodation, but instead, they threw me into difficult farm work,” she said.
“We are here working for someone; the person is paying us 1,000 som, which has little value. My health can’t take it, so I told the police officer who brought us. He said I should manage and that he would come and take me soon. Till now, we have not seen him.”
“I am not a criminal. I am just a Nigerian woman trying to survive. We are suffering here without a visa,” she added.
Another Nigerian man, whose name was not disclosed, also had his passport seized. He shared his ordeal in a statement obtained by SaharaReporters, stating that he suffered a serious accident in March and is now in urgent need of medical attention in Nigeria.
“Please, I am truly desperate… I urgently need an exit visa. In March, I had a serious accident, and I was taking medication and undergoing treatment in Nigeria. I need to return for a medical check-up. I can no longer stay here comfortably. I am in severe pain.
“The longer I remain here, the more serious my injuries and pain become. Please, I need to return to my country, Nigeria. Meanwhile, I have no money left to pay for accommodation and food again. Please, I need to return to my country immediately,” he said.
These cases have raised growing concerns about the vulnerability of Nigerian citizens in Central Asia, especially those who travel through unofficial or undocumented means in search of greener pastures.
The victims are now appealing to the Nigerian government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Nigerian Embassy in Russia (which oversees Kyrgyzstan) to intervene urgently. They fear further abuse and exploitation if immediate steps are not taken to secure their release and facilitate their return to Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, spokesperson for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), told SaharaReporters on Thursday that the commission was not aware of the development.
“We are not aware of this, and we have not received any petitions,” he said.
Human rights advocates and migration experts have also raised red flags over the increasing trend of exploitation faced by Nigerian migrants in less-monitored countries. They are calling for stronger bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and countries in Central Asia to ensure the protection of Nigerian nationals abroad.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings