According to a Nigerian man named Balogun Adisa Ridwan, who fought in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, he was tricked into joining the military while traveling overseas solely in pursuit of civilian work.
Recall that Ridwan was reportedly recruited under false pretenses and taken to the battlefield, where he died together with three other Nigerians, Adam Anas, Akinlawon Tunde Kuyum, and Abugu Stanley Onyeka, in the current conflict in Ukraine.
Ridwan was taken prisoner by Ukrainian troops, but he was later discovered alive.
After surrendering at the front lines, Ridwan was reportedly captured by Ukrainian forces on January 13, 2026, close to the city of Lyman in the Donetsk area.
Ridwan recounted his experience, saying that after being offered a job, he ended up at a military base where he had to sign documents that he couldn’t understand because of language challenges.
I went to Russia on a tourist visa in order to find work,” he claimed. The Russian government sent me to fight in Ukraine after blatantly deceiving me and converting me into a soldier.
The terminology used in the contract was unclear to me on the day we signed it. In order to sign our contracts, they forbade us from using our phones for translation. I previously informed them of my employment. Perhaps they intended to place me in my field. I had no idea that I would be used.
When he and another foreign recruit came upon Ukrainian troops, Ridwan stated they made the decision to surrender right away.
He said that he was treated humanely while in detention, with Ukrainian forces giving him food, clothing, and warm housing instead of hurting him.
“Being captured by the Ukrainians was fortunate for me,” he said. These folks are decent.
Ridwan also pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to step in and facilitate his trip back to Nigeria.
“I appeal to my government, my president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he continued. Forgive your son. To provide for my family, I moved out. My expectations were not met. My goal was to work as an engineer or mechanic. The Russian government was a complete liar.
