The eagerness displayed by some Nigerians to serve as mercenaries in Ukraine has been kicked against by the Nigerian government.
The Nigerian Government said it will not accept such willingness.
Speaking through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ spokesperson, Francisca Omayuli, the government said it will not tolerate such, noting that it was already in talks with its Ukrainian counterparts to forestall such an occurrence.
The statement comes after reports emerged of Nigerian volunteers being drafted into the Ukrainian army at the Ukrainian Embassy in Abuja.
Last week, the Second Secretary at the Ukrainian Embassy to Nigeria, Bohdan Soltys, confirmed to Punch that $1,000 would be needed by Nigerian volunteers.
The embassy stated this when scores of Nigerian men converged on its premises in Abuja on Thursday to express their readiness to join the Ukrainian side.
But reacting in a statement on Monday, Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Omayuli noted: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted the Embassy to verify the speculation. The Ukrainian Embassy refuted the allegation, but confirmed that a number of 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 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.”
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