A Nigerian man who travelled abroad to enlist with the Russian military in the ongoing war against Ukraine has been killed in combat.
The deceased, whose identity has not been officially disclosed, reportedly left his family behind in Nigeria to join the Russian Army.
His death was confirmed on Monday by security analyst Zagazola Makama in a brief social media post, though no further details were provided about the circumstances surrounding his killing.
The Nigerian was believed to be among several foreign nationals recruited by Russia, either through direct enlistment or inducements linked to promises of financial rewards, residency opportunities, or other incentives.
His death comes shortly after reports emerged of a 28-year-old Kenyan national, Clinton Nyapara Mogesa, who was also killed while fighting for Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.
There has been growing concern across Africa over the involvement of young men from economically vulnerable backgrounds in the Russia–Ukraine war.
Reports indicate that Africans, mainly Nigerians, Ghanaians, Kenyans, Somalis and others, have been recruited into the Russian military, sometimes in controversial circumstances.
In several cases, individuals were allegedly lured with promises of lucrative jobs or educational opportunities, only to be deployed to the frontlines with minimal training.
Families are often left without official communication from Russian authorities regarding the fate of their relatives.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence (DIU) disclosed that Mogesa was killed during combat operations in the Donetsk region, one of the most intense battle zones since the outbreak of the war.
His body was reportedly discovered by Ukrainian forces at a position previously held by Russian troops following a deadly assault.
According to the DIU, Mogesa was killed during what it described as a “meat assault,” a term used to describe high-casualty frontal attacks in which soldiers, often poorly trained and inadequately equipped, are sent into combat with little regard for survival.
Ukrainian authorities said Mogesa, who had been living and working in Qatar before travelling to Russia, signed a contract with the Russian military under unclear circumstances.
Intelligence reports revealed that he received only minimal training before being deployed to the frontlines in Donetsk, where he was eventually killed.
The deaths have further heightened concerns over the exploitation of foreign nationals in the protracted Russian/ Ukrainian war
