The Russian government has officially responded to rumors that it is hiring Nigerians to fight in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
According to the Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyolyshev, there is no official plan or government program to enlist Nigerians as soldiers.
The Allegations: Reports recently surfaced claiming that four Nigerians—Adam Anas, Akinlawon Tunde Quyuum, Abugu Stanley Onyeka, and Balogun Ridwan Adisa—were killed in battle between December 2025 and January 2026. The stories claimed these men were:
Tricked: Promised "security jobs" but forced into the military after three weeks of training.
Paid High Salaries: Promised around ₦3.6 million (200,000 roubles) monthly.
Trapped: Allegedly forced to sign contracts in Russian (without translations) and had their passports seized so they couldn't run away.
Russia’s Response: Ambassador Podyolyshev stated that if any Nigerians are being recruited illegally, it is the work of "illegal organizations" and not the Russian state.
He challenged those with evidence to come forward so Russia could investigate. He also accused Western media of spreading these stories to make Russia look bad.
