Russia Seeks Stronger Collaboration with Nigeria to Combat Unlawful Activities

The Russian Federation has officially called for closer diplomatic and security cooperation with Nigeria to tackle unlawful and criminal activities affecting both nations. This initiative comes amid growing concerns over recent unrest and reports of foreign involvement in local disturbances.

According to a statement issued by the Russian Embassy in Nigeria in Abuja, the call follows reports from the media office of Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, regarding protests that erupted in the state.

Youths in Edo State recently took to the streets to protest rising insecurity, particularly kidnapping incidents, which have alarmed both citizens and the government. In response, the Governor’s Press Secretary, Patrick Ebojele, claimed that a Nigerian citizen living in Russia might have been funding these riots with the goal of tarnishing the Edo State Government’s reputation.

The Russian Embassy acknowledged this statement, emphasizing the importance of bilateral collaboration in tackling such issues. “We have taken note of the remarks made by Patrick Ebojele, Press Secretary to the Governor of Edo State, on January 13, regarding student protests in Ekpoma. The statement references the alleged involvement of a Nigerian citizen residing in Russia in financing riots aimed at discrediting the Edo State Government,” the embassy said.

To address these concerns, the embassy highlighted two draft agreements between Russia and Nigeria that, once ratified, could strengthen joint investigations into alleged criminal activities. The agreements involve the Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia and the Federal Ministry of Justice of Nigeria, as well as cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior.

Additionally, there exists a Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters agreement between Russia and Nigeria, which was signed in 2018 but has not yet entered into force due to the lack of ratification by Nigeria.

The embassy stressed that finalizing these agreements would provide a legal framework for collaborative action against unlawful and criminal activities involving citizens of either country. “We hope that the review and ratification process of these draft agreements by Nigerian authorities will accelerate, paving the way for stronger collaboration between Russian and Nigerian agencies to prevent criminal conduct,” the statement concluded.

This move underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing transnational crime, particularly in a time when local protests and global networks can intersect to create complex security challenges.