Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, quickly walked away on Thursday when journalists confronted him with questions about Muhammadu Buhari regime’s stand on the ongoing military occupation of Ukraine by Russia.

Mr Onyema gave the reporters a consternated look before briskly taking to his heels, leaving the journalists confounded with their microphones and cameras hanging.

The minister’s actions underscores the Buhari regime’s refusal to join hosts of other nations to weigh on the ongoing dispute days after the United States, United Kingdom, United Nations, Kenya and other notable countries condemned Russia’s action.

Earlier, Mr Onyeama had said Nigeria did not have evacuation plans for its citizens in Ukraine because Russia President Vladimir Putin had assured that there won’t be war, despite amassing hundreds of thousands of troops, military equipment and medical aid at the border with Ukraine.

“The Russian government itself was saying they will not invade,” the minister said.

Russia launched a military operation against Ukraine on Thursday, drawing worldwide uproar as countries fear the move could trigger another global war. Mr Putin said he took the decision after Ukraine showed interest in aligning with the West and might soon become a NATO member.

Some foreign nationals including Nigerians are leaving the Ukraine’s capital after Russia began shelling.