FG opposes recruitment Of Nigerians as mercenaries in Ukraine  

The Federal Government on Monday expressed strong opposition to reported recruitment of Nigerian citizens as mercenaries in the Ukrainian war.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement by the spokesperson, Francisca Omayuli, cautioned that the Nigerian government will not tolerate the recruitment of Nigerians as foreign fighters in Ukraine. The ministry indicated that government is in talk with Ukrainian foreign ministry to prevent the recruitment of Nigerians for the military of Ukraine.  The Ukrainian embassy in Nigeria, however, admitted that some Nigerians approached the embassy to volunteer their enlistment into the Ukrainian army to fight the Russian forces in Ukraine.

Nigerian volunteers were alleged to be recruited into the Ukrainian army at the Ukrainian Embassy in Abuja.

According to the statement: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted the Embassy to verify the speculation.

“The Ukrainian Embassy refuted the allegation but confirmed that a number of Nigerians had approached the Embassy indicating their willingness to fight on the side of Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

“Furthermore, the Embassy clarified that the Ukrainian government is not admitting foreign volunteer fighters and as such dissociated itself from the claim that it is requesting $1,000 from each Nigerian volunteer for air ticket and visa.

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“As a responsible member of the international community and consistent without obligations under international law, Nigeria discourages the use of mercenaries anywhere in the world and will not tolerate the recruitment, in Nigeria, of Nigerians as mercenaries to fight in Ukraine or anywhere in the world.

“The Federal Government will continue to engage with the Embassy of Ukraine in Nigeria and other relevant authorities to prevent this possibility.”

The Ukrainian President had caked for volunteers to reinforce the Ukrainian military in the fight against Russian invasion of Ukraine. Nigerians were said to have volunteered for recruitment in large numbers.