REPORT: 36 NIGERIANS RECRUITED TO FIGHT FOR RUSSIA, FIVE CONFIRMED DEAD
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Agency Report
No fewer than 36 Nigerians were reportedly recruited to fight in Russia’s war against Ukraine, with at least five confirmed dead, according to a new investigative report.
The report, titled “The Business of Despair: The Russian Army’s Recruiting of African Fighters,” was published in February 2026 by the investigative group All Eyes on Wagner. It details how vulnerable young African men were allegedly lured abroad with promises of jobs and education, only to be forced into military service.
Drawing from a database of 1,417 African recruits between 2023 and mid-2025 obtained from Ukrainian sources, the report identifies Nigerians among those deployed in high-risk assault operations. The average age of African recruits was 31, with many coming from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Among the confirmed Nigerian fatalities were Abdoulaye Issaka Ismael, 27; Agbo Moses Omale, 43; Adamu Abdulai Ismail, 25; Mikael, 47; and Fajobi Taiwo Omoniyi, 50. The report noted that the total African death toll stood at 316 but warned that the number could be higher.
Recruitment Networks and Allegations
The investigation by the OSINT Accountability Project uncovered alleged recruitment networks operating through travel agencies and social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok. Advertisements reportedly showcased images of Moscow’s skyscrapers and luxury lifestyles, offering signing bonuses of several thousand dollars, monthly salaries of $2,000 to $2,500, health insurance, and pathways to Russian citizenship.
Nigeria was listed among targeted countries alongside South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, and Gambia. Recruits were allegedly coerced into signing military contracts upon arrival in Russia, with some reporting unpaid wages and confiscated documents.
In 2025, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, disclosed that over 1,400 nationals from 36 African countries were fighting for Russia, with some held as prisoners of war.
Accounts from Affected Nigerians
An unnamed Nigerian captured by Ukrainian forces said in a video that he was forced to sign a Russian-language military contract after his phone was seized. He claimed he believed he was being trained for civilian work before being deployed to the frontline.
Another Nigerian, Abubakar Adamu, recently appealed to the Federal Government for repatriation, claiming he travelled to Moscow on a tourist visa issued in October 2025 for a security job but was compelled to enlist. His lawyers invoked the doctrine of Non Est Factum, arguing he did not understand the documents he signed.
On February 12, 2026, Ukraine’s Defence Ministry released photographs of two Nigerians, Hamzat Kazeem Kolawole and Mbah Stephen Udoka, reported killed in Luhansk after signing contracts in 2025.
Denials and Official Reactions
A Port Harcourt-based agency, St. Fortunes Travels and Logistics, allegedly linked to recruitment efforts, denied involvement. Its owner, Fortune Chimene Amaewhule, said the firm discontinued a Russia-related package after learning some clients were switching to military enlistment independently.
The Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyolyshev, denied any government-backed recruitment of Nigerians, stating Moscow was unaware of such activities and would investigate if evidence was provided.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission spokesperson, Abdulrahman Balogun, said the Federal Government concluded its repatriation exercise years ago, suggesting those still in Russia may have enlisted voluntarily.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to comment on the investigative findings.
Analysts warn that the revelations raise serious concerns about human trafficking, exploitation, and the broader geopolitical consequences of recruiting vulnerable Africans into foreign conflicts.
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