Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, on Thursday cautioned Nigerians and other Africans against enlisting in the Russian army to fight Ukraine.

Sani urged Nigerians and other Africans not to allow themselves to be used as mercenaries by Russia.

Posting on X, the former lawmaker reminded Nigerians that Ukraine and Russia were part of the defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, USSR.

The USSR popularly known as Soviet Union was the world’s first constitutionally socialist state and a major global super power.

Established after the Russian revolution, it spanned much of Eurasia until its dissolution in 1991.

In February 2014, war broke out between Ukraine and Russia following Russia’s move to annex the Crimea. A full scale war broke out with Russia invading Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Sani wrote on X: “Nigerians and other Africans should desist from going to Russia to enlist in the Army for them to fight against Ukraine.

“It’s a historical fact that Russia supported Africa during our independence struggle but Ukraine was also part of that USSR. Don’t allow yourself to be mercenaries.”