A damning CNN investigation has revealed that at least four Nigerian men have been killed after being deceived into fighting for Russia in the Ukraine war, lured by false promises of lucrative jobs and citizenship.
The report details how Russian operatives have been actively recruiting African men, primarily from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Uganda. Posing as civilian employment agents, they offer incentives up to $23,000 for roles in engineering, security, and other non-combat fields.
Instead, recruits have their passports confiscated, are forced to sign combat contracts in Russian—a language they don't understand—and are given minimal training before being deployed to some of the war's most brutal frontlines.
Among the survivors interviewed by CNN are Patrick Kwoba, who escaped with shrapnel wounds, and Charles Njoki, injured by a drone strike. Their accounts, verified through recruitment chats, visas, and social media, paint a picture of exploitation targeting economically vulnerable young Africans.
African governments, including Nigeria's, have repeatedly warned citizens against accepting such offers from Russia. However, CNN's investigation found that Russia's defense and foreign ministries have remained silent on the issue, even as the war enters its fourth year and the Kremlin faces significant manpower shortages.
Security experts say the tragedy highlights a dangerous nexus of economic desperation and geopolitical exploitation, where African lives are being used as cannon fodder in a distant conflict under false pretenses.
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