A Nigerian man, Balogun Adisa Ridwan, previously reported dead in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, has been confirmed alive after being captured by Ukrainian forces.
Ridwan had been listed among Nigerians allegedly killed in the conflict after travelling abroad in search of work. Reports in February claimed he and three others died after being recruited under false pretences and deployed to the battlefield.
However, it has now emerged that Ridwan was taken prisoner near the city of Lyman in Ukraine’s Donetsk region on January 13, 2026, after surrendering at the front line. From captivity, he later discovered that he had already been declared dead back home in Nigeria.
According to his account, he travelled to Russia on a tourist visa hoping to secure civilian employment but was taken to a military base and made to sign documents he could not understand due to language barriers.
“The day we were signing the contract, I didn’t understand the language. They didn’t allow us to use our phones to translate, so we signed,” he said, explaining that he believed he would be placed in his professional field rather than deployed to combat.
Faced with active fighting, Ridwan said he and another foreign recruit decided to surrender immediately when they encountered Ukrainian troops.
He described his treatment in custody as humane, stating that soldiers provided food, clothing, and shelter, adding that the capture likely saved his life.
Now confirmed alive, Ridwan is appealing to the Nigerian government for assistance in returning home. He called on Bola Ahmed Tinubu to forgive him, insisting he only left the country to find work and support his family.
“I travelled to find a job as a mechanic or engineer. It did not work out the way I wanted. The Russian government totally fooled me,” he said.
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