The Federal Government has sounded a stern warning over the growing cases of Nigerians being illegally recruited into foreign armed conflicts, particularly amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, raised the alarm in a statement issued on Sunday by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, expressing grave concern over what he described as an “alarming trend” of deceptive recruitment practices targeting Nigerian citizens.
According to Tuggar, recent media investigations and security reports reveal that several Nigerians were lured abroad under false pretences, including promises of lucrative jobs, security-related employment, educational opportunities and migration incentives. Many of the victims, he said, were subsequently deployed to combat zones after being misled and coerced into signing military service contracts.
He disclosed that some recruitment schemes involved enticing offers such as high monthly salaries, sign-on bonuses and fast-tracked citizenship in foreign countries. In several reported cases, victims allegedly signed contracts written in foreign languages without proper legal guidance, while their travel documents were confiscated upon arrival.
The minister further noted that intermediaries and agents were believed to be facilitating the travel of recruits under tourist or other non-military visa categories, thereby masking the true nature of their engagement.
“The Federal Government unequivocally warns all citizens against engaging in or accepting any offer that involves participation in foreign armed conflicts,” Tuggar said, stressing that such actions not only endanger lives but could also contravene Nigerian and international laws regulating mercenary activities and foreign enlistment.
He emphasised that Nigerians who choose to participate in foreign conflicts outside approved governmental frameworks do so at their own risk.
To curb the trend, Tuggar disclosed that the government is collaborating with relevant domestic and international partners to investigate the development and intensify public awareness on the dangers of illegal recruitment. Nigerian missions abroad, he added, have been directed to heighten consular vigilance and provide timely advisory services to citizens.
He urged parents, guardians, community leaders and educational institutions to sensitise young Nigerians about the grave risks associated with fraudulent overseas recruitment schemes.
Citizens, he advised, should verify all foreign employment and study opportunities through official government channels and promptly report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its citizens, Tuggar declared that Nigerians “must not be exploited or trafficked into foreign conflicts under any circumstances.”
