Nigerian soldiers, Russia ,Ukraine ,War
No fewer than four Nigerians recruited to fight for Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine have reportedly been killed on the battlefield, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The deceased were identified as Adam Anas, Akinlawon Tunde Quyuum, Abugu Stanley Onyeka and Balogun Ridwan Adisa. They were allegedly recruited under the guise of a “security job” but were later conscripted into the Russian army and deployed to the war front after about three weeks of military training.
DailyNigerian gathered that Anas, Quyuum, Onyeka and Abubakar Adamu — the only known survivor — travelled together to Russia in November 2025, while Adisa was recruited earlier in the year. The four Nigerians reportedly died on different dates between December 2025 and January 2026.
Sources disclosed that Russian military authorities did not officially notify the families of the deceased and warned other African recruits against informing relatives about the deaths. It was learnt that news of the fatalities first surfaced in a secret WhatsApp group created by African mercenaries.
“We heard about the death of our brother through one of his colleagues. His picture was posted in a secret WhatsApp group. Our family was never contacted by the Russian authorities,” a relative of Adam Anas said.
The victims were reportedly recruited by a Nigerian agent identified as Emiola Muhammad, who promised them well-paying security jobs. The Russian Embassy in Abuja allegedly issued them single-entry tourist visas without biometric capture or in-person submission, despite official guidelines warning applicants against relying on third parties.
On arrival at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow, the Nigerians were allegedly diverted from normal immigration procedures and directed towards enlistment into the Russian military. They were reportedly made to sign enlistment contracts written in Russian without English translation.
After signing the documents, their passports and phones were seized, and they were transported to a military camp where they underwent training before being deployed to combat zones.
A voice note reportedly sent by Adam Anas before his death described the dangers they faced on the frontlines, including long treks through forests and constant threats from drone attacks.
When contacted, the Russian Embassy in Nigeria did not respond to enquiries on the matter. However, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the ministry was unaware of the incident, describing it as “sad and unfortunate.”
Meanwhile, Abubakar Adamu, the only known survivor, has appealed to the Nigerian government to intervene and facilitate his return home. Through his lawyer, he said he was deceived into accepting a civilian security job but was forced into military service upon arrival in Russia.
The letter from his legal representatives demanded an end to his deployment, the return of his confiscated documents, and his immediate repatriation to Nigeria, citing misrepresentation, lack of consent and violations of international law.
Ukraine has previously claimed that over 1,400 Africans from 36 countries are fighting for Russia, with international reports alleging that many were coerced into combat roles under deceptive recruitment schemes.