The Federal Government has raised alarm over the reported deaths of two Nigerian nationals in eastern Ukraine, warning citizens against falling prey to illegal recruitment networks linked to foreign armed conflicts.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, expressed grave concern over what he described as a disturbing pattern of Nigerians being lured into war zones under false pretences.
In a statement issued on Sunday, February 15, by his spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the minister urged Nigerians to be cautious of offers promising lucrative employment, scholarships, or migration opportunities abroad, noting that some of such proposals conceal military enlistment schemes.
The warning follows disclosures by Ukraine’s Military Intelligence that two Nigerians — Hamzat Kolawole and Mbah Udoka — were found dead in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, a major frontline in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War.
Ukrainian authorities reportedly stated that the two men had signed contracts with the Russian military in 2025 before their deaths.
According to the minister, media investigations and security reports indicate that recruitment tactics often involve deceptive promises of high monthly salaries, signing bonuses, and expedited citizenship. Victims are allegedly persuaded to travel on non-military visas and, upon arrival, compelled to sign military service agreements written in foreign languages without proper legal counsel.
Tuggar further noted that in several cases, travel documents were confiscated, leaving recruits stranded and vulnerable. He added that intermediaries and agents frequently facilitate such arrangements, masking the true nature of the engagement.
International media reports have also highlighted similar cases involving Africans, including Nigerians, who were allegedly enticed to Russia with assurances of employment or education but later deployed to combat zones. Some accounts documented the exploitation of young African women recruited under scholarship schemes.
The minister stressed that participation in foreign conflicts outside officially sanctioned government frameworks could contravene both Nigerian and international laws governing mercenary activities and foreign enlistment.
“The Ministry wishes to emphasise that Nigerians who choose to participate in foreign conflicts outside approved governmental frameworks do so at their own risk,” the statement read.
He disclosed that the Federal Government is collaborating with relevant domestic and international partners to investigate the recruitment networks and intensify public awareness campaigns. Nigerian missions abroad have also been directed to heighten consular vigilance and issue timely advisories to citizens to prevent further incidents.
