Pecohub The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine has announced the discovery of the bodies of two Nigerian nationals in the Luhansk region amid ongoing hostilities in eastern Ukraine.
In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the agency identified the deceased as Hamzat Kazeem Kolawole (born April 3, 1983) and Mbah Stephen Udoka (born January 7, 1988).
According to Ukrainian authorities, the bodies were found during military intelligence operations in the contested region.
The circumstances surrounding their deaths were not fully detailed in the initial statement. However, Luhansk remains one of the key flashpoints in the war between Ukraine and Russia, with intense fighting reported in parts of the area since 2022.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria regarding the development or confirmation of next-of-kin notification.
The discovery raises questions about the presence and status of foreign nationals in the conflict zone. Nigerian authorities have previously advised citizens to avoid travel to active war areas.
