How 36 Nigerian youths ended up in Russia-Ukraine war

A stranded Nigerian fighting in Russia

No fewer than 36 Nigerians were reportedly recruited to fight in Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, with five 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.

The average age of African recruits is 31, and many were reportedly drawn from economically challenged backgrounds.

Among confirmed Nigerian fatalities are Abdoulaye Issaka Ismael, 27; Agbo Moses Omale, 43; Adamu Abdulai Ismail, 25; Mikael, 47; and Fajobi Taiwo Omoniyi, 50.

The report said the death toll —316 across all African recruits— might be higher, as the list is not exhaustive and additional deaths were identified through social media verification.

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 and using videos and photos showcasing life in Russia against the backdrop of Moscow skyscrapers or luxury cars, symbols of wealth, power, and success.