Nigerian government discourages citizens from enlisting as fighters in Ukraine

Troopers arrive to bolster one of many remaining checkpoints earlier than the frontlines the place Ukrainian forces are battling invading Russian forces close to Brovary, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 8, 2022.

• The Ukrainian Embassy in Nigeria says Nigerians have approached it to investigate about enlisting to combat in opposition to Russia.
• An estimated 16 000 folks from throughout the globe have proven curiosity in preventing in opposition to Russia in Ukraine, says Ukraine’s minister of international affairs.
• Nigeria says it has discouraged its residents from changing into mercenaries as a result of it abides by worldwide legislation.

A bunch of Nigerians have supplied to combat in Ukraine after the nation known as on international volunteers to affix their combat in opposition to the Russian invasion, however the Nigerian authorities is just not amused.

Nigeria’s Ministry of International Affairs mentioned in a press release that regardless of Ukraine saying it did not enlist any Nigerians, fairly a quantity supplied their companies.

“The Ukrainian Embassy refuted (sic) the allegations however confirmed that a number of Nigerians had approached the Embassy indicating their willingness to combat on the facet of Ukraine in its ongoing battle with Russia,” mentioned Francisca Omayuli, spokesperson for the Ministry of International Affairs.

Final week, Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s minister of international affairs, known as for an “Worldwide Legion of Territorial Defence”, arguing that “collectively we defeated Hitler, and we’ll defeat (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, too”.

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A number of days later, Kuleba posted a Fb video during which he claimed that 16 000 international fighters have been on their approach to Ukraine, some from so far as Canada. This consists of Canadian comic Anthony Walker, who calls himself a “Non permanent Ukrainian” on his Twitter deal with @anthonycwalker.

For its half, Nigeria mentioned it didn’t help mercenaries and suggested its residents to not be part of the struggle in Ukraine.

“As a accountable member of the worldwide group, and in keeping with our obligations beneath worldwide legislation, Nigeria discourages the usage of mercenaries anyplace on the earth and won’t tolerate the recruitment in Nigeria of Nigerians as mercenaries to combat in Ukraine or anyplace on the earth,” mentioned Omayuli.

“The Federal Authorities will proceed to have interaction with the Embassy of Ukraine in Nigeria and different related authorities to stop this chance.”

Through the United Nations (UN) Common Meeting vote final week, Nigeria voted in favour of Ukraine, together with 28 different African international locations. Seventeen African international locations – together with South Africa – abstained, whereas eight had no vote recorded and solely Eritrea voted in opposition to Ukraine.

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