By A.I. AKYALA

Young women in Nigeria have reportedly been targeted by Russia for recruitment into weapons manufacturing roles. Recent findings indicate that Russia sought these young women from Nigeria and various other African nations to work in harsh conditions at factories responsible for producing drones intended for use in Ukraine.

The recruitment campaigns predominantly leveraged social media, enticing women with misleading promises of lucrative careers, complimentary travel, educational opportunities, and the chance to forge new friendships. Interested candidates only needed to pass a brief Russian language test and complete a computer program to apply.

The women, largely aged between 18 and 22, were drawn to the Tatarstan region of Russia following persuasive social media advertisements, some of which were backed by governmental and media endorsements.

A Deceptive Opportunity

The Associated Press broke the story, highlighting revealed that women from Nigeria, as well as Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, and Sierra Leone were being enticed with ads that presented them with these ambitious work opportunities and a chance at a new life in Europe. This was all a ruse. Instead, they were transported to work in drone factories in Russia?s Alabuga Special Economic Zone.

Many of the fake opportunities were promoted on the social media page ?Alabuga Start.? One post described the Alabuga Start program as an international program, showing pictures of young women receiving diplomas, gaining experience in industries like hospitality and logistics, and spending free time with friends.

The nature of the jobs advertised to these young Nigerian women were deceptive and ambiguous. However, it was clear that recruitment efforts were specifically targeted at women between the ages of 18 and 22. It hasn?t been made clear why these young Nigerian women and women from across Africa were targeted, over older women or men. However, AP reported that some analysts have suggested that officials may have thought that young women are easier to control.

The ads outlined that they didn?t need any work experience or prior training to participate in the program and, in return for hard work, they were promised a good wage and career opportunities.

According to a Facebook page promoting the Alabuga Start program, 182 women were recruited through these online efforts in the first half of 2024. Many came from Nigeria and central and east African countries.

The advertisements also advertised that no prior work experience was necessary, and in exchange for their labour, participants were promised decent wages and career advancement opportunities. According to a Facebook page promoting the Alabuga Start initiative, a total of 182 women were recruited via these digital campaigns during the first half of 2024, with numerous recruits hailing from Nigeria and central and eastern African nations.

Challenging Working Conditions and Surveillance

Using it various disinformation platforms on social media and on various web sites, young women were invited to make application for these lucrative offers. Those who took the risk and travelled to Russia have many months later emerged and blown the whistle on Russia?s duplicity and the exploitation that they were subjected to while enrolled in this Alabuga Start International programme. Many young women are now speaking out about the shock they experienced when they were trained and put to work in the Alabuga Drone factory to assemble drones that were destined to be used in the Russian- Ukrainian conflict.

Despite being a signatory to the 1930 Convention on Forced labour, Russia is in full violation of International Labour law. Russia has, using duplicity lured and forced young African women into forced labour in its weapons and munitions factory in the Tartastan region. Young women who have since escaped from this forced labour have described the horrendous and dangerous working conditions, they were subjected to in the Alabuga drone factory. Some of the gross violations they were subjected to included working in inhumane conditions, working for long hours, and handling dangerous chemicals without being provided with protective clothing to safeguard their health.

The United Nations and nations of the world should raise their united voices in condemning Russia?s illegal human labour violations and trafficking. This gross disregard for human rights and the ILO convention should be particularly condemned and the world?s collective voice should unify behind the safeguarding of Human rights in this day and age. Critical awareness should be raised to the nations of the world that Russia is exploiting the tough economic times that various economies of the world are going through to lure and traffic young women.

?Associate Prof., Akyala is Director, Global Health and Infectious Diseases Control Institute Nasarawa State University & An African Public Affairs Analyst Based in Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

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