Nigeria summons Côte d’Ivoire ambassador over death of detainee Usama in Abidjan prison

FG summons Ivorien Ambassador over death of Usama in Abidjan prison

 The federal government has demanded compensation from Côte d’Ivoire over the death of Usama Murtala, a 24-year-old Nigerian trader, who was held in the country’s prison.   Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, minister of foreign affairs, summoned Kalilou Traore, the Ivorian ambassador to Nigeria, on Friday, according to a statement signed by Magnus Eze, the minister’s media aide.   Usama and five other young Nigerians — Aliyu Malami, Nasiru Umar, Shamsu Abubakar, Sa’adu Bello and Liman Mohammed — were said to have gone on a trading trip from Sokoto to Abidjan by road in August 2025, where they were arrested and detained in MACA Prison, Abidjan, without charge or trial.   “They were, however, recently released following sustained engagements by the Nigerian Mission and diplomatic interventions by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the statement reads.     According to the statement, while receiving the survivors at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Tuesday night, the minister indicated that the government “will be taking up the case with the Ivorian authorities”.   “Odumegwu-Ojukwu sought an explanation from the Ivorian envoy as to why the Nigerian authorities were not informed of their detention, thereby delaying diplomatic intervention,” the statement said.   She described the Nigerians as traders on a business trip who were hindered by language barriers and denied access to legal representation in the French-speaking country.     “These young men were simply detained and taken to prison,” the minister was quoted as saying.   “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.”   Odumegwu-Ojukwu also informed the ambassador that the traders’ phones, goods, money and other personal belongings were not returned to them even after their release.     She further informed the envoy that the returnees had gone back to their home state of Sokoto, “but the sad memory of the death of their colleague will linger”.   “We want you to communicate this to the authorities in Abidjan,” the minister said.   “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.”   Responding, the Ivorian envoy expressed condolences to the family of the deceased Nigerian and to the country.   He said he would communicate Nigeria’s concerns to the authorities in Abidjan as soon as possible.  

3 hours ago

Nigerian govt summons Ivorien Ambassador over death of Usama in Abidjan prison

The Nigerian Government through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu Ojukwu on Friday summoned the Ivorien Ambassador to Nigeria Kalilou Traore, following the unfortunate death of one Usama Murtala, after prolonged detention in the country’s prison. DAILY POST reports that Usama and five other young Nigerians identified as Aliyu Malami, Shamsu Abubakar, Nasiru Umar, […] Nigerian govt summons Ivorien Ambassador over death of Usama in Abidjan prison

20 hours ago