Recently, reports surfaced indicating that citizens from several African countries, including Nigeria, have been fraudulently recruited into the Russian military and dispatched to fight in Ukraine. The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed significant concern regarding the alarming rise in cases where Nigerian citizens are illegally recruited to participate in foreign armed conflicts, although they did not explicitly mention Russia in their statement. This warning comes after a research report by the All Eyes on Wagner collective, which claimed that at least 36 Nigerians have been involved in the Ukraine conflict, with five reported fatalities in combat.

The Ministry's statement highlighted that some Nigerians have been victims of a fraudulent recruitment process, where they were tricked into signing military service contracts and subsequently sent to war zones. This situation reflects broader patterns of exploitation in conflict zones, where individuals may seek opportunities, often unaware of the dangers associated with such recruitment practices. This not only poses risks to those individuals but also raises concerns about the international implications of involving foreign nationals in ongoing hostilities.

In addition, the AFP news agency reported testimonies from several Kenyans who had fought in Ukraine, revealing that a local agency had made promises of lucrative employment, only to find themselves embroiled in a conflict. These incidents underscore the need for increased awareness and protective measures for citizens from vulnerable regions to prevent them from being drawn into foreign wars under false pretenses.