Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence has reported the death of another Nigerian, Ayebusiwa Olabode Victor, who was allegedly killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in the ongoing war with Ukraine.
The development was disclosed on Thursday in a statement by the Ukrainian National News Agency, Ukrinform, and the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine.
According to the report, Victor, who was born on April 28, 1992, was from Ilutitun in Ondo State.
He was reportedly killed in the Kharkiv region near the settlement of Hrafske during combat operations involving Ukrainian troops.
Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence said Victor signed a mercenary contract in late February 2026, about one week after Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned citizens against illegal recruitment into foreign armed conflicts.
The agency alleged that many foreign recruits were being lured with promises of jobs and quick financial rewards, only to be deployed to the frontline shortly after arriving in Russia.
“Their story is typical: deception, promises of ‘easy money,’ a week of training, deployment to the front, and a quick death,” the statement read.
Ukrainian authorities further alleged that recruitment networks use social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, to target African nationals.
According to the agency, victims are allegedly issued visas and one-way tickets, but upon arrival in Moscow, their passports are seized under the guise of documentation processing.
It claimed that recruits are later told there is no job, no valid visa and no means of returning home, leaving them with limited options.
“Deportation with debt, imprisonment, or signing a contract with the occupying army,” the agency said, describing the alleged choices faced by recruits.
The report also claimed that at least 215 Nigerians have signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defence, while about 25 are either dead or missing in action.
It further referenced earlier cases of Nigerian nationals reportedly killed in similar circumstances, describing them as part of a growing pattern of foreign recruitment into the war.
Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence urged Nigerians to resist recruitment attempts and avoid being drawn into what it described as an illegal war. It also encouraged victims or targets of recruitment schemes to report through designated support channels.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly cautioned citizens against involvement in foreign armed conflicts, warning of legal and security consequences.
It has also maintained that Nigeria is not a party to the Russia-Ukraine war.
The latest report has heightened concerns over the alleged recruitment of African nationals into the conflict as the war continues with no immediate end in sight.
