FG vows action against Côte d’Ivoire over Nigerian’s death in prison

Nigeria's Federal Government has vowed to launch a formal diplomatic challenge against Ivorian authorities following the death of Nigerian citizen Usama Murtala. He died in an Abidjan hospital just hours after his release from a year-long detention without trial.

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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.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, stated that six young Nigerian men, who were in Abidjan for a phone parts business, were arrested under suspicious circumstances and detained at MACA Prison without charge or trial. The ministry only became aware of their situation in April 2026 and was surprised that the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan had not been notified by Ivorian authorities.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu explained that the detainees endured difficult conditions, with Murtala falling seriously ill in custody. Despite sustained engagement and diplomatic interventions by Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, leading to their release, Murtala's health had deteriorated significantly. Officials from the Nigerian High Commission rushed him to a critical care hospital after his release, but he died the following morning, far from his family in Sokoto.

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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.

Murtala was buried in Abidjan according to Islamic rites, with fellow former detainees and Nigerian embassy officials in attendance. The five surviving Nigerians are being brought back to Nigeria. The minister described Murtala's death as a painful reminder of the risks faced by young Nigerians seeking better opportunities abroad.

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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.

The incident highlights the precarious situations many Nigerian citizens encounter when traveling abroad in search of greener pastures, with numerous young people facing such challenges.

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This is the reality many of our citizens face when they travel in search of greener pastures. Many are young peo