The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has refuted reports that the Russian government is conscripting Nigerian and other African students to fight in the ongoing war with Ukraine in exchange for visa renewals.
According to a press release signed by Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, Spokesperson of the Ministry, “The reports are therefore, false and misleading and should be disregarded.”
The Ministry stated that the Nigerian Embassy in Moscow is in close contact with the Nigerian Students Association in Moscow and there have been no reported cases of conscription.
Ambassador Abu-Obe appealed to media outlets to “exercise due diligence in the line of duty by verifying information at their disposal before releasing it to the public.”
“The Ministry wishes to seize this occasion to appeal to media outlets to exercise due diligence in the line of duty by verifying information at their disposal before releasing to the public,” the statement read.
The Ministry’s swift response is aimed at allaying the fears of Nigerian students and parents, and to reassure the public that the safety and well-being of Nigerian citizens abroad is a top priority.
In the words of Ambassador Abu-Obe, “The Nigerian Embassy in Moscow is in close communication with the Executives of the Nigerian Students Association in Moscow, Russia and there has not been any reported case of conscription of Nigerian students nor indeed of other African students to fight in the aforementioned war.”