Federal government has cautioned Nigerians against falling for illegal foreign military recruitment schemes.
Gatekeepers News reports that it also revealed that it has launched investigations into rising cases of citizens allegedly deceived into joining armed conflicts abroad.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed grave concern over what it described as alarming reports of Nigerians being lured overseas with promises of well-paying jobs, security work, education, and migration opportunities, only to be forced into combat roles in active war zones.
“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.
The warning followed recent incidents linked to the Russia-Ukraine war. On February 12, Ukrainian authorities announced the discovery of the bodies of two Nigerians, identified as Hamzat Kazeem Kolawole, 42, and Mbah Stephen Udoka, 38, in the Luhansk region, where they were allegedly fighting on the Russian side.
A day later, another Nigerian, Abubakar Adamu, appealed to the federal government to secure his repatriation from Russia, claiming he was tricked into military service after being promised a security job.
Adamu alleged that upon arrival in Russia, his travel documents were seized and he was compelled to sign enlistment documents written entirely in Russian without any interpreter or legal guidance.
Similar accounts were recently highlighted in a CNN investigation, which revealed how Africans from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda were reportedly recruited under false pretences and later deployed to the battlefield.
The ministry said intelligence and media reports suggest that some Nigerians were misled into signing foreign military contracts in unfamiliar languages, exposing them to serious legal and physical risks.
It warned that such actions may violate both Nigerian laws and international conventions regulating mercenary activities and foreign military enlistment.
As part of efforts to address the situation, the government said it is working closely with domestic and international partners to dismantle recruitment networks and increase public awareness.
Nigerian diplomatic missions abroad have also been directed to strengthen consular monitoring, provide timely advisory services, and support citizens in distress.
The ministry urged parents, guardians, community leaders, religious bodies, and educational institutions to actively sensitise young Nigerians about the dangers of deceptive overseas job offers.
Citizens were advised to verify all foreign employment and educational opportunities through official government channels and report suspicious schemes to relevant authorities.
The federal government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights, safety, and dignity of Nigerians at home and abroad, stressing that no citizen should be exploited, trafficked, or forced into foreign conflicts under any circumstances.
