Nigeria’s foreign ministry has issued an urgent warning over what it describes as the increasing illegal recruitment of its citizens to fight in foreign conflicts.
It comes after Ukrainian officials said they found the bodies of two Nigerians who they said were killed in combat last year.
Even though Nigerian officials are yet to confirm the deaths, investigations and security reports indicate that some nationals were enticed with promises of well-paid employment, security work, educational opportunities or migration incentives, only to find themselves thrust into active war zones.
Donbas region is now mainly occupied by Russia and is literally the front in the war between both countries, that began nearly three years ago.
It may be thousands of miles away from Africa, but there is evidence that hundreds of African fighters are on that war front.
AIT _Online has seen evidence of soldiers from Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Sudan and yes Nigeria.
Nigerian officials say some of its citizens are being deceived with promises of lucrative jobs, only to find themselves forced onto the battlefield.
According to the ministry, once some recruits arrive in Russia, their passports are allegedly confiscated. They are then forcibly conscripted and sent to the war front.
Disturbing videos circulating on the social media platform Facebook show other Africans, including some Nigerians at the war front.
In one video, an African fighter, whose country of origin is not identifed appears with what looks like an explosive device strapped to his body. Another man, heard off-camera speaking Russian, seems to order him to run toward enemy lines — threatening to shoot him if he refuses.
The authenticity and exact circumstances of the footage have not been independently verified, but analysts say the video underscores the gravity of the situation.
However, officials acknowledge that not all Nigerians involved are victims of deception.
Some appear to be fighting voluntarily.
In one video, also on Facebook, a Nigerian man — dressed in military fatigues — calls on others back home to join him, claiming they can earn significant money by enlisting.
He identifies himself as Obiorah Okechukwu. And claims he once fought in the Nigeria military.
Meanwhile, the Russian Ambassador to Nigeria has denied that the Russian government is involved in any illegal recruitment of Nigerians.
The ambassador insists Moscow does not authorize or support the forced enlistment of foreign nationals and says any such activity would be the work of independent actors.
So if Russia denies any involvement in the recruitment of fighters from Africa to fight in Ukraine, how do these men get there?
An AIT News investigation has identified several recruitment agencies in Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, and yes, here in Nigeria. We contacted one such agency here in Nigeria and spoke to one of the officers, asking how we could make the trip to Russia.
Here’s what we were told.
PHONE CONVERSATION CLIP.
In a strongly worded statement, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
says it is working with foreign partners to investigate the recruitment networks and secure the release of any Nigerians found to have been trafficked or coerced into combat.
It is urging citizens to thoroughly verify overseas job offers and to report suspicious recruiters to authorities.
The government also says it will continue diplomatic engagement with Russian authorities while stepping up public awareness campaigns at home.
MUST READ: Russia probes claims of foreign sponsorship of protests in Edo State
For now, officials are urging Nigerians to exercise extreme caution — warning that what begins as a promise of opportunity abroad could end on a distant battlefield.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
