A Call for Legislative Intervention to Protect Nigerian Citizens from Foreign Military Recruitment in Russia

Abstract

In a press release in February 2026, Nigeria's foreign ministry issued an urgent warning over what it describes as the increasing illegal recruitment of its citizens to fight in foreign conflicts. It comes after Ukrainian officials said they found the bodies of two Nigerians who they said were killed in combat last year. The February 2026 advisory by the federal government shows that Nigerians were deceived by promises of employment or migration opportunities and were later deployed to combat zones, with confirmed deaths. Apart from warnings from the Federal Government regarding the issue, Nigeria does not have a comprehensive legal framework that regulates or prohibits the foreign military recruitment of Nigerian citizens. This makes the country more vulnerable to deceptive recruitment practices. Economic hardship, unemployment, misinformation, language barriers, and migration channels also make the country more vulnerable. This policy brief recommends urgent legislative action by the National Assembly to: i. Prohibit unauthorised foreign military recruitment of Nigerian citizens and regulate foreign employment agents through licensing and strict penalties; ii. Strengthen consular powers to monitor recruitment trends, coordinate with border authorities in Nigeria, and establish emergency repatriation mechanisms; and iii. Relevant NASS Committees may, in conjunction with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and relevant Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), launch a nationwide public awareness campaign to educate young Nigerians about deceptive recruitment schemes and their dangers, thereby reducing vulnerability to scams and misinformation.