Former senator Shehu Sani has issued a formal warning to Nigerians and citizens across Africa, advising them against joining the Russian military to participate in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. In a public statement shared on X, the former Kaduna Central legislator emphasized that individuals should avoid being utilized as mercenaries.
Sani pointed out that both Russia and Ukraine were integral components of the former Soviet Union. He acknowledged Russia’s historical support for African independence movements but reminded the public that Ukraine was also a part of the defunct USSR. The Soviet Union, which emerged following the Russian Revolution, served as a global superpower until its collapse in 1991. The current geopolitical struggle intensified significantly after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, leading to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Sani concluded his message by urging Africans to stay out of the conflict, cautioning that foreign nationals should not position themselves as hired combatants.
