According to Balogun Adisa Ridwan, a Nigerian 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.
Remember that Ridwan was reportedly recruited under false pretenses and taken to the battlefield, where he was said to have perished together with three other Nigerians, Adam Anas, Akinlawon Tunde Kuyum, and Abugu Stanley Onyeka, in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine?
After being taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces, Ridwan was discovered alive, according to information obtained.
Ridwan reportedly surrendered in the front lines and was 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 camp where he had to sign documents that he couldn’t understand because of language issues.
“I came to Russia on a tourist visa in search of employment,” he stated. I was ordered to fight in Ukraine after the Russian government deceived me and made me a soldier.
“I didn’t comprehend the terminology on the day we signed the contract. We signed our contracts since they forbade us from using our phones for translation. I’ve previously explained my work to them. I may have been placed in my field. I had no idea that they would take advantage of me.
According to Ridwan, when he and another foreign recruit came upon Ukrainian troops, they made the decision to surrender right away.
He said that Ukrainian soldiers did not hurt him while he was in detention, but instead gave him food, clothing, and a warm place to stay. He called this humane treatment.
“I was fortunate to be taken by the Ukrainians,” he said. They are decent individuals.
Additionally, Ridwan urged President Bola Tinubu to step in and facilitate his return to Nigeria.
“I make an appeal to my government, to my president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he continued. Forgive your son. In order to provide for my family, I left home. I was not satisfied with how it turned out. I went to get a job as an engineer or mechanic. I was completely duped by the Russian government.
