Newphiligeek123:
When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, 27-year-old Nigerian Ottah Abraham was outraged.

He picked up his phone and tweeted: "I want to join the team." But he was some 8,700km (5,400 miles) away from the front line, in a small apartment in Nigeria's main city, Lagos.

The philosophy graduate is one of several hundred Africans, from countries like Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa and Algeria, volunteered to take up arms in the battle against Russia, partly to escape the bleak prospects faced by many young men at home.

"We know that it's war, it's not child's play," he told said. "But being a soldier in Ukraine would be better than being here.
"I'll probably be allowed to stay if the war ends, plus I'll be a hero and fight an undeniable enemy."

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that some 20,000 volunteers from across the world had already applied to enlist. They came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a global appeal for foreign fighters to "come and stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians".

The government temporarily stopped its visa requirements and offered equipment and a salary to those with a valid passport and military training. There has been no official confirmation that foreign fighters will be allowed to stay in the country after the war.

Kereti Usoroh, a Nigerian living in the capital, Abuja, said his motivations for volunteering had nothing to do with financial gain or the prospect of citizenship.

"I already live a comfortable life. If I wanted to go to Europe, I'd do it through education, not war," the 29-year-old lawyer said.
"This is about beating a bully - injustice for one is injustice for all."

Sentiments to gladden the hearts of Ukrainian diplomats and days after President Zelenksy's appeal, scores of hopeful volunteers headed to the Ukrainian embassy in Abuja, with ambitions of enlisting.

But the Ukrainian embassy in Nigeria - like others in Africa - had to back-pedal as many of the continent's governments do not want their nationals to fight in Ukraine.

"Nigeria discourages the use of mercenaries anywhere in the world and will not tolerate the recruitment," Nigeria's foreign ministry wrote in a statement.

Bohdan Soltys, a Ukrainian embassy official in Nigeria, said they were not paying Africans to fight - and people would have to pay for their own flights to reach Europe.

"There's a fine line between foreign volunteers and mercenaries," he told the Afrotimes Newspaper.

Disappointment
For some, like David Osagie Adeleke from Nigeria's south-western Oyo state, this was a devastating blow. The 21-year-old, who has worked as an emergency rescue worker for the Red Cross, had been preparing to enlist as a combatant, having collected the necessary documentation, including a letter of recommendation.

"I went straight to the police station to collect my documents," he said, explaining that a clean criminal record was one of the requirements for enlisting. "I'm disappointed to hear that the embassy is now saying it won't take us Africans."

With his emails to the Ukrainian embassy now bouncing back, he is looking into alternative routes to get to the country's border.
"I've got an interview with the Polish embassy in Nigeria," he said.

Prince Nkem Nduche, who was among those at the Ukrainian embassy in Abuja, has more knowledge than most about the situation in Ukraine and is more optimistic.

He actually spent some time in Russia as a youngster, has dual citizenship and even enrolled at Russia's military academy - but was jailed for a short time, accused of being a spy after he was spotted at the American embassy.

He said he fled the country seven years ago, via Ukraine - and would happily fight against Russia, but accepts it may not be.
"I wanted to go on my own but as the Nigerian government said we can't go… I will obey them," he told Afrotimes News.

Source; https://www.facebook.com/AfrotimesNewspaper/photos/a.119381757440035/135920365786174

Highlandgee:
This shows you how deep of a shithole Nigeria has become. Very sad!

silverlinen:
Damnnn
Old news
Read this shit via BBC, a long time ago....bout 3-4 months back.

Buh anyways, this corntree is so screwed up.

NobleSeed:
For some, like David Osagie Adeleke
this name though
Belike him papa na benin
Him Mama na Yoruba

Stargangz:
To me, a war torn Ukraine is far better than a shitty Nigeria.
Like for Ukraine, share for Nigeria.

NobleSeed:
For some, like David Osagie Adeleke
this name though
Belike him papa na benin
Him Mama na Yoruba

Neddstark:


All these na manufactured news.
Even US nationals fighting for Ukraine have the Ukrainian flag on their uniform. Those images are fake too.
An African soldier in Ukraine will not survive long.
Racist Ukrainians will send them to the heat of war. Russians who capture them will have no mercy.

Totilopussylick:
Only cowards dies twice

temitope27:
But I can't try it oo, me that's thinking of buying Benz very soon

inspirator1:
EASYGURU sorry I didn't link up. I copied your number but forget to save. Sorry.