Nigerian Man Appeals for Repatriation After Alleged Forced Enlistment in Russian Military

Nigerian Man Appeals for Repatriation After Alleged Forced Enlistment in Russian Military

A Nigerian citizen, Abubakar Adamu, has appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria for urgent repatriation after alleging that he was deceived into joining the Russian military following a trip to Moscow for what he believed was a civilian job opportunity.

According to his legal representatives, Adamu travelled to Russia on a tourist visa issued by the Russian Embassy in Abuja, after being promised employment as a civilian security guard. However, upon arrival in Moscow, his international passport and travel documents were allegedly confiscated, and he was reportedly compelled to sign enlistment documents written entirely in Russian without the assistance of an interpreter.

His lawyers stated that he later discovered the documents had effectively enrolled him into the Russian Armed Forces, despite having no intention of joining the military. In a formal petition submitted to Nigerian authorities, the legal team invoked the legal doctrine of Non Est Factum, arguing that Adamu did not understand the nature or implications of the contract he signed.

They further alleged fundamental misrepresentation, claiming he was misled into military service under false pretences. The petition also raised concerns about possible violations of international law, including forced conscription, coercion, and deprivation of personal liberty.

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Adamu is reportedly being held at a Russian military camp and has refused deployment to combat zones in Ukraine, where Russia has been engaged in ongoing military operations since 2022. His lawyers have demanded that Russian authorities immediately halt any deployment process, return his seized documents, and facilitate his safe return to Nigeria.

The case comes amid growing international reports that African nationals are being recruited into the Russian military under questionable circumstances. A previous investigative report by CNN revealed that citizens from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and other African countries were allegedly lured with promises of high salaries, signing bonuses, and pathways to Russian citizenship.

According to the investigation, many recruits were reportedly given minimal training and deployed to combat zones in Ukraine, with allegations of coercion, racial abuse, and inhumane treatment emerging from multiple testimonies.

Last year, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, disclosed that more than 1,400 citizens from 36 African countries were fighting for Russia in Ukraine, with some reportedly captured as prisoners of war. Similarly, Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs confirmed that over 200 Kenyan nationals might have been drawn into the conflict through deceptive online recruitment schemes.

The precise number of Nigerians involved or killed in the conflict remains unclear, and Russian authorities have not officially confirmed casualties among foreign recruits.

Responding to earlier allegations, Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyelyshev, denied that the recruitment of Nigerians into the war effort was state-sponsored. He stated at a press conference in Abuja that there is no official government programme to recruit Nigerians to fight in Ukraine, adding that any illegal actors involved would be operating independently of the Russian state.

As of the time of filing this report, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue a formal statement on Adamu’s case. However, civil society organisations and family members are urging swift diplomatic engagement to secure the release and repatriation of Nigerians allegedly trapped in the Russia–Ukraine conflict.

Adamu’s case has reignited concerns about the vulnerability of African job seekers to international recruitment scams, particularly in regions affected by armed conflict.

Nigerian Man Appeals for Repatriation After Alleged Forced Enlistment in Russian Military