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How Nigerian Ex-Naval Officer Allegedly Tricked Into Russia’s Army via Fake Job Offer

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Adamu Abubakar in Russian Army’s uniform flanked by another soldier

How Nigerian Ex-Naval Officer Allegedly Tricked Into Russia’s Army via Fake Job Offer

A retired officer of the Nigerian Navy, Adamu Abubakar, was allegedly lured with a fake dollar-paying security job and later coerced into Russia’s military, where he was deployed toward the Ukraine war and eventually required psychiatric care, according to accounts from his family, legal representatives and medical records.

The embassy received the letter on January 19

The embassy received the letter on January 19

In November 2025, Abubakar completed administrative paperwork at the Russian Embassy in Nigeria after a Lagos-based agent assured him of a civilian security job in Russia with a promised $2,000 monthly salary. His wife, Hadiza Abubakar, said he followed due process, including biometric capture and visa issuance, believing his tourist visa would later be converted to a work permit upon arrival.

A copy of Adamu Abubakar’s Nigerian passport

A copy of Adamu Abubakar’s Nigerian passport

However, upon landing in Russia, Abubakar’s experience reportedly departed sharply from standard international travel procedures. Instead of passing through normal immigration checks, he was allegedly diverted from official screening, had his travel documents seized, and was transported with other foreign nationals in a guarded bus to an undisclosed location. According to accounts relayed by his wife, the group was pressured to sign documents written entirely in Russian, without interpretation or explanation. Those documents later turned out to be military enlistment papers.

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Available evidence shows that Abubakar was enlisted as a contract soldier on November 10, 2025, assigned a military rank, and moved between several locations connected to Russia’s war against Ukraine. The conflict, now in its fourth year, began after tensions escalated over Ukraine’s growing alignment with NATO. Despite repeated assurances, Abubakar’s family says the promised monthly salary was never paid.

By early February 2026, Abubakar’s mental state reportedly deteriorated significantly. Medical documents from Russian military facilities cited acute anxiety and stress-related psychiatric conditions, recommending psychiatric hospitalisation and close observation to assess his suitability for further military duties. He was later evacuated to a medical facility in Bryansk, a region that has been repeatedly affected by the conflict. Since then, communication with his family in Nigeria has been restricted and irregular, worsening their emotional distress.

Adamu Abubakar

Adamu Abubakar

Abubakar’s ordeal reflects a wider pattern involving African nationals, many of whom are allegedly recruited through deceptive job offers promising security work, education, or residency opportunities, only to be redirected into military roles after arrival in Russia. Investigations and official statements from Ukraine have confirmed that foreign nationals, including Nigerians, have been killed while fighting for Russia, while others remain trapped in combat zones with little chance of safe return.

Despite documentary evidence showing Abubakar’s visa issuance and embassy processing, Russian officials in Nigeria have denied any knowledge of him. This claim has been challenged by his legal representatives, who argue that the circumstances point to non-disclosure, coercion and possible abduction. A formal request has been submitted to Russian authorities seeking his urgent repatriation to Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have since issued public warnings urging citizens to avoid all forms of foreign military recruitment, stressing that participation in overseas conflicts could violate Nigerian and international law. The Nigerian Navy has confirmed that Abubakar served for over a decade before retiring and was not on active service at the time of his departure from Nigeria.

Back in Kano State, Abubakar’s wife and children remain deeply traumatised, appealing for urgent diplomatic intervention to secure his safe return. As official inquiries continue, the case has renewed concerns over overseas job scams, weak regulation of recruitment agents, and the growing risks Nigerians face when foreign employment offers intersect with international armed conflicts.

How Nigerian Ex-Naval Officer Allegedly Tricked Into Russia’s Army via Fake Job Offer

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Abroad-Based Nigerian Woman Kneels with Children in Emotional Tribute to Husband (VIDEO)

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Abroad-Based Nigerian Woman Kneels with Children

Abroad-Based Nigerian Woman Kneels with Children in Emotional Tribute to Husband (VIDEO)

An emotional moment was recently captured as an abroad-based Nigerian woman and her children knelt to honor and appreciate their husband and father. In a heartfelt message, the woman told her children,

“Without my husband, I’m nothing in this world. You guys should always treat Daddy as your God. Instead, you disrespect your dad, you disrespect me.”

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The scene, marked by tears, hugs, and heartfelt expressions, reflects the deep love and respect she holds for her spouse. Social media users have praised the display as a rare and touching example of family unity and gratitude.

Family psychologists note that such gestures reinforce bonds, model respect for parental figures, and help children understand the value of appreciation in relationships.

The post has since gone viral, sparking discussions on family values, respect for fathers, and emotional expression in Nigerian households.

Abroad-Based Nigerian Woman Kneels with Children in Emotional Tribute to Husband (VIDEO)

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Outrage as US Lawmakers Recommend Repeal of Sharia Codes in Nigeria

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Sharia Court

Outrage as US Lawmakers Recommend Repeal of Sharia Codes in Nigeria

The United States Congress has stirred national outrage in Nigeria after recommending the repeal of Sharia codes and criminal anti-blasphemy laws in northern states. The recommendations, included in a joint report on “Christian persecution in Nigeria” submitted to the White House by the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Appropriations Committee, also urged the disarmament of Fulani militias and proposed restrictions on beef and cattle exports to West African countries.

The report claimed that Nigeria is the “deadliest place in the world to be a Christian,” citing attacks by Fulani herdsmen and terrorist groups that have resulted in deaths, kidnappings, and destruction of churches and schools. It accused northern blasphemy laws of being used to silence Christians and other minorities, and urged Washington to push Nigeria toward religious legal reforms.

Religious Leaders Reject US Recommendations

Islamic clerics and scholars have strongly condemned the proposals. Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a Kaduna-based cleric, defended the use of Sharia law, emphasizing that Muslims have a right to be governed by their religious injunctions. He also criticized what he described as a double standard in global religious discourse, noting that while other countries allow governance by religious texts for Christians, similar rights for Muslims are being challenged.

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Another cleric, Sheikh Halliru Maraya, described the matter as “sensitive and double-edged,” warning that foreign pressure to scrap Sharia could deepen religious divisions. He stressed that violence in states like Kaduna, Zamfara, and Plateau affects both Christians and Muslims, urging the US to focus on capacity-building, intelligence sharing, and counter-terrorism cooperation instead of legal interference.

Civil Society and Experts Raise Sovereignty Concerns

Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum, called the US recommendations “provocative” and detrimental to Nigeria’s sovereignty. He warned that attempts to enforce legal reforms externally could undermine interfaith harmony and national stability.

Political scientist Prof Jibrin Ibrahim noted that while the US can express concern about security incidents, it cannot dictate Nigeria’s domestic policies. He highlighted that much of the violence is driven by banditry and resource conflicts, affecting citizens of all faiths, rather than targeting Christians alone.

Federal Government Stresses Cooperation and Sovereignty

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, described the report as a potential catalyst for broader cooperation. The government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting religious freedom and emphasized that ongoing security operations, intelligence sharing, and counter-terrorism efforts address threats posed by terrorist groups, bandits, and communal conflicts, irrespective of religion.

The government stressed that any foreign assistance must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and constitutional framework, while warning against external interference in legal matters such as Sharia and blasphemy laws.

Call for Balanced, Home-Grown Solutions

Analysts and civil society organizations argue that while foreign concern is valid, Nigeria must determine its own policies through constitutional processes and inclusive national dialogue. Experts warn that external attempts to reform religious laws risk fueling divisions and undermining national sovereignty, calling for strategic, home-grown solutions to insecurity and interfaith tensions.

Outrage as US Lawmakers Recommend Repeal of Sharia Codes in Nigeria

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FG Tells Court NAFDAC Fully Empowered to Enforce Sachet Alcohol Ban

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NAFDAC

FG Tells Court NAFDAC Fully Empowered to Enforce Sachet Alcohol Ban

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOHSW) has affirmed before the Federal High Court in Lagos that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has full legal authority to enforce the nationwide ban on sachet alcohol and other small‑pack alcoholic beverages. This declaration came in a counter‑affidavit filed on February 23, 2026, in response to a lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) challenging the enforcement of the ban.

Through its lawyer, Jumoke Motilayo Falaye, the ministry maintained that it has never interfered in NAFDAC’s operations and is not an enforcement agency. The affidavit emphasised that NAFDAC is a statutory body established under the NAFDAC Act, with broad regulatory powers over foods, drugs, and related products, including alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET bottles, and glass bottles below 200 ml. According to the ministry, enforcement decisions are solely within NAFDAC’s mandate, and allegations of ministerial interference are speculative and unsupported by evidence.

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The ministry also clarified that the Minister of Health has not granted any further extension of the moratorium on the ban, noting that the agency retains the authority to regulate, restrict, and enforce prohibitions as provided under Sections 5 and 30 of the NAFDAC Act, the Spirits Drink Regulation 2021, and the Memorandum of Resolution executed in December 2018.

SERAP’s Legal Challenge

SERAP filed the suit, marked FHC/L/CS/2568/25, against the Minister of Health and the Attorney-General of the Federation, seeking declaratory and injunctive reliefs to:

  • Declare the sachet alcohol ban valid under the NAFDAC Act.

  • Prevent the Minister of Health from granting or extending any moratorium on enforcement.

  • Restrict federal authorities from interfering with NAFDAC’s enforcement responsibilities.

  • Ensure full nationwide implementation of the ban, particularly given concerns over public health and alcohol abuse among youth and low-income communities.

SERAP argued that delays in enforcing the ban violate national health laws and expose communities to risks associated with cheap, potent, and highly accessible alcoholic beverages.

The sachet alcohol ban has been a contentious public policy issue in Nigeria. NAFDAC began a renewed crackdown on sachet alcohol in late 2025 following directives from the National Assembly and Senate, which ordered that the deadline for compliance be strictly enforced. However, conflicting communications from federal authorities, including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, created confusion over the enforcement timeline.

Industry groups, including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), have challenged the ban, citing economic impacts, job losses, and potential growth of unregulated markets. Despite this, NAFDAC has maintained that enforcement is legally justified and in the interest of public health and safety.

The Federal High Court is yet to fix a hearing date for the case, which could set a landmark precedent for regulatory authority and public health enforcement in Nigeria.

FG Tells Court NAFDAC Fully Empowered to Enforce Sachet Alcohol Ban

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