Nigeria has warned its citizens against being recruited into armed conflicts abroad after reports surfaced that some Nigerians, as well as citizens of other African countries, were duped into fighting for Russia in Ukraine.
The Nigerian foreign ministry, in a statement Sunday, expressed its grave concern over the “rising and alarming cases of Nigerian citizens being illegally recruited to participate in foreign armed conflicts,” without naming Russia.
A report published last week by the investigative collective All Eyes on Wagner said that at least 36 Nigerians had been recruited by the Russian army to fight in Ukraine, five of whom were killed in combat.
“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," the ministry statement said.
Last week, an AFP investigation gathered accounts from several Kenyans who fought in Ukraine after being promised well‑paid jobs in Russia by a local agency.
They travelled to Russia and were forced to sign contracts in Cyrillic that they could not understand before being deployed to the front.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said last week that he had discussed the return of South Africans lured into fighting for Russia in Ukraine with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin
Testimonies have also emerged in Uganda, a Russian ally that has so far avoided criticizing Moscow.
Ukraine said in November it had identified at least 1,436 people from 36 African countries fighting on behalf of Russia.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
