Nigerians would be barred from joining the Ukrainian army to combat Russia, according to President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
Remember that after Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, called on people all around the world to join the fight, several Nigerians volunteered to join the Ukrainian army.
In response to the Ukrainian President’s plea, Francisca Omayuli, a spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated the Nigerian government would not permit the recruiting.
Omayuli further claimed that the Nigerian government will work with the Ukrainian Embassy in Nigeria as well as other necessary authorities to prevent Nigerian individuals from joining the force.
The statement read, “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 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 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 Federal Government will continue to engage with the Embassy of Ukraine in Nigeria and other relevant authorities to prevent this possibility.”
