February 2, 2026 | News
A Nigerian national who travelled abroad to enlist with the Russian military amid the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war has been killed on the battlefield, SUNTV Global Channel has learned.
The deceased, whose identity has not yet been officially disclosed, reportedly left behind his family in Nigeria before travelling to join the Russian Army. Details surrounding his recruitment and deployment remain unclear.
The death was confirmed on Monday by security analyst Zagazola Makama in a brief post shared on social media. Makama stated that the Nigerian fighter was killed during combat operations, though no further information was provided regarding the exact circumstances of his death.
SUNTV Global Channel understands that the Nigerian was among several foreign nationals believed to have been recruited by Russia, either through direct enlistment or inducements tied to promises of financial rewards, residency opportunities, or other incentives.
His death comes just days after reports confirmed the killing of a 28-year-old Kenyan national, Clinton Nyapara Mogesa, who was also fighting for the Russian armed forces in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence (DIU) disclosed that Mogesa died during combat operations in the Donetsk region, one of the fiercest battlegrounds since the outbreak of the war. According to the intelligence agency, Mogesa’s body was discovered by Ukrainian forces at a position previously held by Russian troops following a deadly assault operation.
The DIU described the operation as a “meat assault” — a term used to denote high-casualty frontal attacks in which soldiers, often poorly trained and inadequately equipped, are sent into combat with little regard for survival.
Ukrainian authorities revealed that Mogesa, who had been living and working in Qatar, left his job before travelling to Russia, where he signed a military contract under circumstances that remain unclear. He reportedly received minimal military training before being deployed to the frontlines in Donetsk as part of a Russian assault unit.
There has been growing concern across Africa over the involvement of young men from economically vulnerable backgrounds in the Russia–Ukraine conflict. Reports indicate that Africans — including Nigerians, Ghanaians, Kenyans, Somalis and others — have been recruited into the Russian military, sometimes under controversial or deceptive circumstances.
In several cases, individuals were allegedly lured with promises of lucrative employment or educational opportunities, only to find themselves sent to active combat zones.
Families of those who travelled to join the war are often left in uncertainty, with little or no official communication from Russian authorities regarding the fate of their loved ones.
SUNTV Global Channel continues to monitor developments surrounding the deaths of African nationals in the ongoing conflict.
