Report on conscription of Nigerian students by Russia false – FG

The Federal Government has declared as false reports making the rounds that the Russian Government is engaging Nigerian and other African Students to participate in the ongoing war with Ukraine with the promise of Visa renewals.

Reports surfaced on Monday that many African students including Nigerians were being forced to join the Russian military before getting visa renewals.

However, in a statement late Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said there was no truth in the reports.

​”The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to news articles published by several Nigerian Media Outlets on Monday 10th June 2024 informing the public that the Russian Government is engaging Nigerian and other African Students to participate in the ongoing war with Ukraine with the promise of Visa renewals.

“The Ministry wishes to inform that 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.

“The Newspaper reports are, therefore, false and misleading and should, therefore, be disregarded,” the statement signed by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Amb. Eche Abu-Obe, said in part.

Bloomberg had reported that Russia is allegedly sending thousands of migrants and foreign students, including Nigerians, to fight alongside its troops in the war against Ukraine in exchange for visa renewal.

The Newspaper quoted European officials claiming that Russia is using coercive tactics to recruit Africans and other foreign nationals, threatening not to extend their visas unless they join the military.

“Some Africans in Russia on work visas have been detained and forced to decide between deportation or fighting,” Bloomberg quoted a European official.