Nigerian Man Appeals to FG for Urgent Repatriation After Being Tricked Into Russian Military

A Nigerian, Abubakar Adamu, has appealed to the Federal Government for urgent intervention to secure his return from Russia.

Adamu claims he was deceived into joining the Russian military after travelling to the country under the impression that he had secured a civilian security job.

According to a report by Zagazola Makama, Adamu’s legal representatives have formally informed Nigerian authorities of his situation, alleging that he was misled and coerced into military service.

The lawyers stated that Adamu travelled to Moscow on a tourist visa issued on October 16, 2025, by the Russian Embassy in Abuja, having been promised employment as a sentry. However, upon arrival, his travel documents were reportedly confiscated, and he was compelled to sign enlistment papers written entirely in Russian, without an interpreter.

He later realised, according to his legal team, that he had been enlisted into the Russian army. Adamu is said to be stranded in a Russian military camp after reportedly refusing deployment to combat zones in Ukraine.

This development comes amid increasing reports of foreign nationals being lured to Russia with promises of civilian jobs, only to be drafted into military service.

On Thursday, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence reported that two Nigerians were killed while fighting on the Russian side in the Luhansk region. The deceased were identified as Hamzat Kazeem Kolawole, 42, and Mbah Stephen Udoka, 38, who reportedly died in November 2025, months after joining the Russian army.

Investigations also suggest that Africans from countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda have been recruited to Russia under the guise of civilian employment as drivers or security personnel, only to be forced into military service with minimal training before being sent to the frontlines.

Reacting to similar reports earlier, Andrey Podyelyshev, the Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, denied any state-backed recruitment and distanced the Kremlin from the allegations.

Adamu’s lawyers have called on Nigerian authorities to act swiftly to secure his safe return, citing serious concerns for his safety and wellbeing.

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