SINOAFRIK Media Documentation and Development Network, a non-governmental organisation, has dismissed a recent viral video featuring six Nigerians in the Central African Republic (CAR) as a deliberate attempt to undermine China-Africa relations.
In a statement signed by its Programme Director, Austin Maho, the organisation described the video as part of a broader trend of “negative media sensationalism” targeting Chinese interests on the continent. The NGO alleged that the video, which accuses a Chinese-linked employer of abandonment and passport seizure, was designed to malign Chinese businesses and strain bilateral ties.
The viral clip showed six Nigerians claiming they were recruited in Nigeria by a Chinese firm, taken to the CAR, and subsequently abandoned without pay. They also accused their recruiter, Abdulrauf Ademola, of seizing their passports. Ademola has since refuted the claims, denying any wrongdoing.
SINOAFRIK urged Nigerians and social media users to be cautious about media manipulation and warned against falling for propaganda aimed at disrupting the strong ties between China and Africa.
“China and Nigeria’s relationship has grown significantly over the years,” the statement read. “The media should focus on the collaborative and mutually beneficial aspects of this partnership and avoid becoming tools in the hands of those bent on discrediting China’s image on the continent.”
The organisation reaffirmed China’s commitment to African development, citing its contributions through trade, investment, and infrastructure under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and South-South solidarity.
SINOAFRIK called on journalists to uphold fairness and balance in reporting issues involving China and Africa, in a way that reflects the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect.
