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The Nigerian Government has summoned the Ivorian Ambassador to Nigeria, Kalilou Traore, to demand an explanation over the death of a Nigerian citizen, Usama Murtala, while in detention in Côte d’Ivoire.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, raised the matter during a meeting with the envoy in Abuja on Friday, following the recent release of five other Nigerians who were detained alongside the deceased in Abidjan.
According to a statement issued by the minister’s Special Assistant on Communications and New Media, Magnus Eze, Murtala and five other Nigerians travelled from Sokoto to Abidjan for business in August 2025 but were arrested and held at the Maison d’Arrêt et de Correction d’Abidjan (MACA) Prison without being charged or tried.
The five surviving detainees were released after diplomatic engagements by the Nigerian Mission in Abidjan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the meeting, Odumegwu-Ojukwu questioned why Nigerian authorities were not informed about the detention of the six citizens, saying the lack of notification delayed diplomatic intervention.
She said the victims were traders who faced language barriers, had no legal representation and endured poor conditions in custody, including being fed only once daily. According to the minister, two of the detainees became seriously ill while in prison, with Murtala later dying after his release.
The minister also raised concerns over the failure of Ivorian authorities to return the detainees’ phones, money, goods and other personal belongings confiscated at the time of their arrest.
She urged the ambassador to relay Nigeria’s concerns to his government, calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Murtala’s death, compensation for his family and improved treatment of Nigerian citizens in Côte d’Ivoire.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also stressed the need for Nigerian diplomatic missions to be promptly notified whenever citizens are arrested abroad to enable timely consular assistance.
“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,”she said.
Responding, Ambassador Traore expressed condolences to Murtala’s family and the Nigerian government, assuring the minister that he would immediately communicate the concerns raised to the authorities in Abidjan.
