A Nigerian national, Abubakar Adamu, has appealed to the Federal Government for urgent intervention to facilitate his return home from Russia after he was allegedly deceived and forced into military service.
Adamu, through his legal representatives, has formally notified Nigerian authorities of his situation, raising serious concerns about his safety, welfare, and the circumstances surrounding his recruitment into the Russian army.
According to his lawyers, Adamu travelled to Moscow on October 16, 2025, after obtaining a tourist visa from the Russian Embassy in Abuja. He had reportedly been promised employment in a civilian role as a security guard or sentry, an opportunity he believed would provide him with legitimate work and better economic prospects.
However, upon his arrival in Russia, his situation allegedly took a drastic turn. His legal team claimed that his travel documents, including his passport, were confiscated shortly after he reached the country. He was then reportedly pressured into signing enlistment documents written entirely in Russian, a language he does not understand. The lawyers stated that no interpreter was provided to explain the contents or implications of the documents before he was made to sign them.
It was only later, according to his representatives, that Adamu realised he had been enlisted into the Russian military without his informed consent. He is currently believed to be held in a Russian military camp, where he remains stranded after reportedly refusing to participate in combat operations.
His refusal to accept deployment, particularly to conflict zones such as Ukraine, has reportedly placed him in a vulnerable and uncertain position, with limited freedom and no clear pathway to return home.
His legal team has described the situation as deeply troubling, emphasizing that Adamu travelled abroad in good faith for civilian employment, not military service. They expressed concern over the alleged coercion, lack of transparency, and absence of legal protections afforded to him during the enlistment process.
The lawyers have therefore called on the Nigerian government to act swiftly by engaging diplomatic channels and working with relevant international authorities to secure his release and safe repatriation to Nigeria. They stressed that urgent intervention is necessary to protect his fundamental rights and ensure his wellbeing.
The case has also drawn attention to broader concerns about the vulnerability of foreign nationals seeking employment opportunities abroad. Many individuals, particularly from developing countries, often pursue overseas job offers in hopes of improving their economic conditions, sometimes without full knowledge of the risks involved.
In response to similar allegations, the Russian Embassy in Nigeria has previously denied any involvement in unlawful recruitment activities and rejected claims of state-sponsored enlistment of foreign nationals under false pretenses.
Despite such denials, Adamu’s lawyers maintain that his case requires urgent humanitarian and diplomatic attention. They urged Nigerian authorities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant diplomatic missions, to take immediate steps to verify his condition, provide consular support, and facilitate his safe return.
The Federal Government is yet to issue an official statement on the matter, but calls for intervention continue to grow as concerns mount over the safety of Nigerian citizens abroad and the need to ensure their protection under international law.
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