Nigeria has warned its citizens against accepting offers to fight in foreign wars, citing what it called “rising and alarming cases” of illegal recruitment amid reports that its nationals have been killed in Ukraine.
In a statement on Sunday, Nigeria’s foreign ministry said citizens of the African country were being lured abroad and deployed to combat zones.
“Recent media investigations and security reports indicate that Nigerian nationals were allegedly recruited under false pretenses, including promises of lucrative employment, security jobs, educational opportunities, or migration incentives,” the ministry said.
It added that “several Nigerians who have fallen victim to such unfortunate situations were deployed to combat zones after being misled and coerced into signing military service contracts.”
‘Suicide bombers’
Ukrainian officials have said that two Nigerians were killed in combat last year while fighting alongside Russian forces.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency said the men died during an assault in the eastern Luhansk region, which has seen intense fighting.
“A trip to Russia is a real chance to end up in an assault unit of ‘suicide bombers’ and, ultimately, to rot in Ukrainian soil,” the agency added.
Nigeria said recruitment tactics included promises of high salaries, signing bonuses and fast-tracked Russian citizenship.
It added that victims were reportedly compelled to sign contracts in foreign languages without adequate legal guidance, and had travel documents confiscated on arrival.
The foreign ministry in Abuja said Nigerians who join foreign conflicts outside approved frameworks “do so at their own risk.”
Preying on Africa
Nigeria’s warning comes amid broader concern across Africa over recruitment drives linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials say more than 1,400 individuals from 36 African countries have been recruited to fight for Russia, some through deception.
Moscow has not publicly detailed the scale of foreign enlistment.
Kenya said last year that more than 200 of its nationals may have joined the Russian military.
Kenya’s foreign minister told the BBC last week that the practice of Russian recruitment of Kenyan nationals was “unacceptable and clandestine”. It said Nairobi had shut down illegal recruiters and would press Moscow to sign an agreement prohibiting the enlistment of Kenyan nationals.
Distress calls
South Africa has said 17 of its citizens traveled to join Russian forces and later sent distress calls seeking help to return home.
A Reuters investigation has detailed an account of a 20-year-old South African citizen who traveled to Russia thinking he had been accepted to an elite bodyguard training course, only to find himself part of a mercenary group fighting against Ukraine.
After a call between President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin last week, South Africa issued a statement saying the two leaders “pledged their support to the process of returning South Africans fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.”
Russia has expanded its political and security footprint in parts of Africa in recent years, deepening military ties and offering training, arms and security assistance to several governments.
Western influence has waned in some African regions while in others, Ukraine has begun expanding its foothold, attempting to counter increasing Russian influence on the continent.