Five among about 36 Nigerians who were recruited to fight in Russia-Ukraine War have been confirmed killed.
The revelation comes from a new investigative report exposing how vulnerable young men were lured abroad with false promises of employment and educational opportunities, only to be forced into military service.
The report, titled, ‘The Business of Despair: The Russian Army’s Recruiting of African Fighters’ was published in February 2026 by the investigative group, All Eyes on Wagner.
The research document detailed how Russia, after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, allegedly turned to African nations to bolster its ranks.
The report, drawing on a database of 1,417 African recruits between 2023 and mid-2025 obtained from Ukrainian sources, identifies Nigerians as part of a broader strategy in which foreign fighters are deployed as “cannon fodder” in high-risk assault operations.
It also revealed that the average age of African recruits is 31, many of whom were reportedly drawn from economically challenged backgrounds.
The dead Nigerians are Abdoulaye Issaka Ismael, 27; Agbo Moses Omale, 43; Adamu Abdulai Ismail, 25; Mikael, 47; and Fajobi Taiwo Omoniyi, 50.
According to the report, death toll of African recruits in the war has hit 316 and possibly more.
The investigation by the OSINT Accountability Project uncovered networks recruiting African fighters for Russia, including travel agencies in both Russia and Africa advertising “fast-track procedures.”
The agencies were alleged to have collaborated with recruiters based in Russia, who reach potential recruits through social media and messaging platforms, mainly Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok, using videos and photos showcasing life in Russia against the backdrop of Moscow skyscrapers or luxury cars, symbols of wealth, power, and success.
Target countries, according to the report, are Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, and Gambia.
It noted that recruits were often deceived through social media adverts and travel agencies offering discounted flights and work opportunities, only to be coerced into signing military contracts upon arrival.
According to the report, the offers are highly attractive, with signing bonuses of several thousand dollars, base monthly salaries of $2,000 to $2,500, higher for “specialists”, health insurance, and even facilitated access to Russian citizenship once the contract is completed.
It noted that, however, in practice, many of the promises remain unfulfilled as fighters on the ground, as well as those who managed to leave, report unpaid wages, funds siphoned off by recruiters or superiors, or payments far below what was originally promised.
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