By Stella Odueme
ActionAid Nigeria has called on the Federal Government and international authorities to immediately investigate allegations that Nigerian women were deceptively recruited into Russia’s Alabuga Start Programme and subjected to exploitation, unsafe working conditions and involvement in military drone production.
The organisation also demanded a thorough probe into reports linking Konstantin Trifonov, a senior recruiter associated with the programme, to Telegram channels allegedly promoting child sexual abuse material, describing the allegations as deeply disturbing and requiring urgent action.
A statement signed by Dr. Andrew Mamedu, Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, on Thursday, said vulnerable young Africans, including Nigerians, were reportedly lured with promises of education, vocational training and lucrative employment, only to face exploitation after arriving in Russia.
The organisation noted that although the allegations must be independently verified, they warrant swift investigations by both Nigerian and international authorities, stressing that anyone found culpable should face the full weight of the law.
ActionAid said its RECONNECT (Reintegration and Empowerment for Connecting and Nurturing Opportunities of Vulnerable Populations and Returning Migrants) Project has worked extensively with returning migrants, survivors of trafficking, internally displaced persons and vulnerable women, many of whom continue to bear the physical, emotional and financial scars of deceptive migration schemes.
According to the organisation, many victims return home traumatised, indebted and stigmatised, often without access to adequate healthcare, psychosocial support or sustainable means of livelihood.
Citing figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), ActionAid said 14,787 Nigerians voluntarily returned home through the agency’s programmes in 2025, while another 7,825 had been assisted by June 2026. It added that more than 65,700 Nigerians have returned since 2017, with over 52,200 receiving reintegration assistance.
ActionAid Nigeria Country Director, Dr. Andrew Mamedu, blamed poverty, unemployment and shrinking economic opportunities for making many young Nigerians susceptible to fraudulent recruitment schemes.
He said victims should never be blamed for their ordeal, insisting that those responsible for trafficking and exploitation must be identified, investigated and prosecuted.
The organisation further argued that the alleged recruitment reflects the broader challenges associated with Nigeria’s growing “Japa” migration trend, warning that economic hardship, insecurity and weak regulation of foreign recruitment continue to expose desperate job seekers to trafficking and forced labour.
It also referenced World Bank estimates showing that 63 per cent of Nigerians were living below the national poverty line in 2025, underscoring the need for stronger job creation, social protection and economic opportunities.
ActionAid called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to investigate the recruitment process, identify affected Nigerians, provide consular and legal assistance, facilitate voluntary repatriation where necessary and strengthen regulation of foreign recruitment agencies and online job advertisements.
The organisation also urged the ECOWAS Commission, African Union, European Union, INTERPOL, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Russian authorities and other relevant international partners to collaborate on an independent investigation, preserve digital evidence, protect potential victims and prosecute any individuals or organisations found culpable.
ActionAid reaffirmed its commitment to supporting survivors of trafficking and exploitation and called for a survivor-centred response that guarantees justice, recovery, protection from stigma and sustainable reintegration.
ActionAid urges probe of alleged exploitation of Nigerians in Russia’s Alabuga programme
