FG Faults Nigerians Being Foreign Fighters
The Federal Government has said it will not condone the recruitment of Nigerians as foreign fighters in Ukraine.
This was contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli.
The statement follows reports that Nigerian volunteers are being drafted into the Ukrainian army at the Ukrainian Embassy in Abuja.
Omayuli has said, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted the Embassy to verify the speculation,” the statement said. “The Ukrainian Embassy refuted the allegation but confirmed that several 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.
“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.”
Meanwhile, the government is putting in place measures to ensure that such occurrence Is forestalled.
The Federal Government has also added that it will rescue Nigerian students trapped in Sumy, Ukraine. Russia has announced the opening of humanitarian corridors to ensure civilians from several Ukrainian cities experiencing heavy fighting, including the capital Kyiv and Sumy.
Recall that the crises between Ukraine and Russia had affected nations worldwide. The federal government last week had succeeded in moving Nigerians from Ukraine home. The ministry of foreign affairs had played its role in their evacuation.
