.png)
ActionAid Nigeria has called for an urgent investigation into reports that young African women, including Nigerians, were allegedly lured to Russia under the Alabuga Start Programme with promises of education, vocational training and well-paying jobs, only to face exploitation, unsafe working conditions and alleged involvement in military drone production.The organisation also expressed concern over allegations linking Konstantin Trifonov, a senior recruiter associated with the programme, to Telegram channels allegedly promoting child sexual abuse material.
In a statement issued on Thursday, ActionAid Nigeria stressed that while the allegations require independent investigation, their gravity demands immediate attention from Nigerian authorities and the international community.
The organisation said any involvement in the production, possession, distribution or promotion of child sexual abuse material constitutes a serious violation of children's rights and must be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Drawing from its Reintegration and Empowerment for Connecting and Nurturing Opportunities of Vulnerable Populations and Returning Migrants (RECONNECT) Project, ActionAid said it has supported returning migrants, survivors of trafficking, vulnerable women, internally displaced persons and survivors of domestic violence.
According to the organisation, the experiences of returnees reveal the devastating physical, psychological, social and economic consequences of deceptive recruitment, with many victims returning home traumatised, burdened by debt and stigma, and lacking adequate access to healthcare, psychosocial support and sustainable livelihoods.
ActionAid cited data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) showing that 14,787 Nigerians returned home safely through its programmes in 2025, while another 7,825 had been assisted by June 2026. It added that since 2017, more than 65,700 Nigerians have returned safely, with over 52,200 receiving reintegration support.
ActionAid Nigeria's Country Director, Dr. Andrew Mamedu, said poverty, unemployment and limited economic opportunities continue to expose young Nigerians to deceptive recruitment schemes.
"Poverty, unemployment and limited economic opportunities create conditions in which deceptive recruiters can prey upon the hopes of young Nigerians seeking a better future. The responsibility must never be placed on victims. Those who deceive, traffic or exploit vulnerable people must be investigated and held accountable," he said.
The organisation argued that the reported recruitment should also be viewed within the broader context of Nigeria's growing "Japa" migration trend, noting that while migration is a legitimate aspiration, economic hardship, insecurity and weak oversight of foreign recruitment have increased the risks of trafficking and labour exploitation.
It further cited World Bank estimates indicating that 63 per cent of Nigerians were living below the national poverty line in 2025 after an additional seven million people fell into poverty during the year.
ActionAid urged the Federal Government, particularly 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 recruitment activities linked to the Alabuga Start Programme, identify affected Nigerians, provide consular, legal and psychosocial support where necessary, and strengthen oversight of foreign employment schemes and recruitment agencies.
The organisation also called on the ECOWAS Commission, African Union, European Union, INTERPOL, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as well as Russian and other relevant authorities, to support a coordinated international investigation into the recruitment practices and the allegations involving Konstantin Trifonov.
ActionAid said the collaboration should include preserving and sharing digital evidence, protecting potential victims and pursuing legal action against individuals or organisations where credible evidence establishes wrongdoing.
The organisation reaffirmed its solidarity with victims of trafficking, exploitation and abuse, urging authorities to adopt a survivor-centred approach that protects victims' identities, combats stigma and guarantees access to justice, recovery and sustainable reintegration.