Nigeria will not tolerate use of Nigerians as mercenaries fighters in Ukraine – FG
By Linus Aleke
The Federal Government on Monday said it will not tolerate alleged attempts by Ukraine Embassy in Nigeria to recruit Nigerian youths as mercenaries fighters in the ongoing war between Russian Federation and Ukraine.
It also refuted the trending report that the Ukraine embassy in Abuja requested $1,000 from each Nigerian volunteer for air tickets and visas.
The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Francisca Omayuli in a statement said that as a responsible member of the international community and consistent with our 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 else in the world.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria has been drawn to an alleged ongoing registration of Nigerian volunteers into the fighting force of Ukraine at the Ukrainian Embassy in Abuja.
“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 with our 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 else in the world”.
Mrs. Omayuli concluded that the Federal Government will continue to engage with the Embassy of Ukraine in Nigeria and other relevant authorities to prevent this possibility.
