The Federal Government on Friday summoned the Ivorian Ambassador to Nigeria, Kalilou Traore, demanding an explanation over the death of a Nigerian, Usama Murtala, while in custody in Côte d’Ivoire.
In a statement made available to newsmen by the Special Assistant on Communications and New Media to the minister, Magnus Eze on Friday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, raised the issue during a meeting with the envoy at her office in Abuja following the recent release of five other Nigerians who were detained alongside the deceased in Abidjan.
Murtala and five other Nigerians—Aliyu Malami, Nasiru Umar, Shamsu Abubakar, Sa’adu Bello and Liman Mohammed—had travelled by road from Sokoto to Abidjan on a trading trip in August 2025 when they were arrested and detained in the MACA Prison without charge or trial.
The five survivors were recently freed after sustained engagements by the Nigerian Mission and diplomatic interventions by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Speaking during the meeting, Odumegwu-Ojukwu questioned why the Nigerian authorities were not informed of the detention of the six citizens, saying the lack of notification delayed diplomatic intervention.
She described the victims as traders whose inability to communicate effectively because of language barriers further worsened their ordeal, adding that they had no access to legal representation while in detention.
‘These young men were simply detained and taken to prison. For these months, they had poor nutrition as they were fed once a day. Two of them were critically ill and one eventually died.
‘Nobody could give reasons why they were arrested and detained for so long without trial or charge’, she lamented.
The minister also complained that the traders’ phones, goods, money and other personal belongings seized at the time of their arrest had not been returned to them despite their release.
She informed the envoy that the survivors had since returned to their home state of Sokoto but insisted that the circumstances surrounding Murtala’s death must be thoroughly investigated.
She said, ‘It’s important that we communicate this to you. They have gone back to Sokoto, their state of origin, but the sad memory of the death of their colleague will linger.
‘We want you to communicate this to the authorities in Abidjan. This should be properly investigated; it should be probed. And anytime there are issues involving our nationals, the Embassy in Abidjan should be informed. We are aware of what language barriers could cause.
‘So, we seek compensation for the dead young man’s family and a commitment that Côte d’Ivoire will, going forward, treat our nationals with dignity’.
The minister had earlier, while receiving the five survivors at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Tuesday night, indicated that the Federal Government ‘will be taking up the case with the Ivorian authorities for compensation’.
Responding, Traore expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and to Nigeria, assuring the minister that he would immediately convey the Federal Government’s concerns to the authorities in Abidjan.
Here’s a publication-ready version in UK English for Breezy News.
FG summons Ivorian envoy over Nigerian’s death in custody, demands investigation
The Federal Government has summoned the Ivorian Ambassador to Nigeria, Kalilou Traore, to demand an explanation over the death of a Nigerian, Usama Murtala, while in custody in Côte d’Ivoire.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, raised the matter during a meeting with the envoy at her office in Abuja, according to a statement issued on Friday by her Special Assistant on Communications and New Media, Magnus Eze.
The meeting followed the recent release of five other Nigerians who were detained alongside the deceased in Abidjan.
According to the statement, Murtala and five other Nigerians—Aliyu Malami, Nasiru Umar, Shamsu Abubakar, Sa’adu Bello and Liman Mohammed—travelled by road from Sokoto to Abidjan on a trading trip in August 2025 when they were arrested and detained at the MACA Prison without charge or trial.
The five surviving detainees were recently released following sustained diplomatic engagements by the Nigerian Mission in Côte d’Ivoire and interventions by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the meeting, Odumegwu-Ojukwu questioned why the Nigerian authorities were not informed of the detention of the six citizens, saying the failure to notify Nigeria delayed diplomatic intervention.
She described the detainees as traders whose inability to communicate effectively because of language barriers worsened their ordeal, adding that they had no access to legal representation while in custody.
According to the minister, the detainees suffered poor conditions, receiving only one meal a day. She said two of them became critically ill, while Murtala later died in custody.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also said no explanation had been provided for their arrest or prolonged detention without charge or trial.
The minister further complained that the traders’ mobile phones, goods, money and other personal belongings confiscated at the time of their arrest had not been returned despite their release.
She disclosed that the five survivors had since returned to Sokoto State but insisted that the circumstances surrounding Murtala’s death must be thoroughly investigated.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu called on the Ivorian authorities to investigate the incident, ensure the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan is informed whenever Nigerian nationals are detained, compensate the family of the deceased, and guarantee that Nigerians in Côte d’Ivoire are treated with dignity.
Breezy News recalls that the minister had earlier stated, while receiving the five survivors at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Tuesday, that the Federal Government would pursue the matter with the Ivorian authorities and seek compensation for Murtala’s family.
Responding, Traore expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and to the Nigerian government and people, assuring the minister that he would immediately convey the Federal Government’s concerns to the authorities in Abidjan.
