The Nigerian government has on Monday said it will not tolerate the recruitment of Nigerian citizens to join Ukrainian forces as mercenaries in the war against Russia. 
Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs ministry spokesperson Francisca Omayuli in a statement said Nigeria is in talks with Ukrainian counterparts to forestall such an occurrence.
“As a responsible member of the international community and consistent with our obligation 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,” Omayuli said.
“The Federal Government will continue to engage with the Embassy of Ukraine in Nigeria and other relevant authorities to prevent this possibility.”
Nigeria’s opposition to hiring its citizens to fight Russia in Ukraine comes days after media reports suggested that Nigerian volunteers were being drafted for the ongoing war between the two Eastern European countries.
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Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensjy last week had called on foreign nationals who are “friends of peace and democracy” to travel to the country to fight against the Russian invasion.
“Anyone who wants to join defence of Ukraine, Europe and the world can come and fight side by side with the Ukrainians against the Russian war criminals”, Zelensky said.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said it will prevent any Nigerian from volunteering as mercenaries in the European country along with media reports that Nigerians were asked to pay $1000 for visas and travel tickets before they could be allowed to volunteer.
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The Nigerian Foreign Affairs spokesperson in the person of Mrs Omayuli stated that the Ukrainian embassy refuted the report that any money was demanded from Nigerian volunteers. 
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