FG Vows Action Against Côte d’Ivoire Over Nigerian’s Death in Prison. Details

• The Federal Government has announced plans to formally challenge Côte d’Ivoire over the death of Nigerian citizen Usama Murtala, who died hours after being released from one year of detention without trial in Abidjan.

The Federal Government has vowed to formally challenge the Ivorian authorities following the death of Usama Murtala, a Nigerian citizen who died in an Abidjan hospital just hours after being released from one year of detention without trial.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed the development in a statement shared on her official X account on Tuesday.

According to the minister, Murtala and five other young Nigerians travelled from Sokoto to Abidjan for the phone parts business but were arrested under what she described as “suspicious circumstances” and detained at MACA Prison without being charged or tried.

She revealed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs only became aware of their situation in April 2026, adding that the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan had “not even been notified of their arrest by the authorities there.”

“Their unfortunate circumstances was brought to my attention in April this year and when I contacted our Embassy in Abidjan, I was dismayed to discover that they had not even been notified of their arrest by the authorities there,” she said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu explained that after sustained diplomatic engagements, the six Nigerians were eventually released. However, Murtala’s health had deteriorated severely during his detention.

“With sustained engagements by our Mission, and diplomatic interventions by our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we are happy to secure the release of these citizens,” she stated.

She said officials of the Nigerian High Commission rushed Murtala to a critical care hospital immediately after his release, but he died the following morning.

“Our officers at the Nigeria High Commission made spirited efforts to save his life by rushing him to a Critical Care Hospital for treatment, but alas, it was too late for Usama. He died the next morning, far from home and family, oblivious to the fact that his mother and siblings in Sokoto were excitedly preparing for his return.”

According to the minister, Murtala was buried in Abidjan in line with Islamic rites at the request of his family, while the five surviving Nigerians — Aliyu Malami, Nasiru Umar, Shamsu Abubakar, Sa’adu Bello, and Lyman Mohammed — are being brought back to Nigeria.

Describing the incident as a painful reminder of the dangers many Nigerians face abroad, Odumegwu-Ojukwu confirmed that the Federal Government would formally take up Murtala’s case with the Ivorian authorities.

She also welcomed the return of the surviving detainees, saying:

“To the survivors of this harrowing ordeal… we will be there to receive you and celebrate your triumph over adversity. In advance, we say, ‘Welcome home.’”