Africa News published on 17 February 2026 an article titled "Nigeria Issues Warning over Illegal Recruitment of Its Citizens for Russia's War in Ukraine."
The Nigerian foreign ministry issued a statement on 15 February expressing "grave concern over the rising and alarming cases of Nigerian citizens being illegally recruited to participate in foreign armed conflict." The statement did not mention Russia or any state, but at least 36 Nigerians reportedly have been recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine, and it is widely believed that is the reason for the warning.
