Nigeria Summons Ivorian Ambassador Over Citizen’s Death, Demands Compensation
The Federal 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 custody in Côte d’Ivoire, and has requested compensation for his family.The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, raised the issue during a meeting with the envoy in Abuja on Friday. The diplomatic move follows the recent return of five Nigerians who were detained alongside the deceased in Abidjan after months of negotiations between both countries.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Murtala and five other Nigerians had travelled from Sokoto State to Abidjan on a trading trip in August 2025 when they were arrested and detained at the MACA Prison without charge or trial. Nigerian authorities said they were not informed of the arrests until several months later, prompting diplomatic intervention to secure their release.
Although the six detainees were eventually released, Murtala reportedly fell ill shortly afterwards and died at a hospital in Abidjan on June 24, 2026. He was buried in Côte d’Ivoire in accordance with Islamic rites after consultations with his family in Sokoto State.
During the meeting with Ambassador Traore, Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed Nigeria’s concern over the circumstances surrounding Murtala’s detention and death. She called for a full explanation from the Ivorian authorities and urged the government of Côte d’Ivoire to provide appropriate compensation to the deceased’s family.
The minister also highlighted concerns that the detained Nigerians were allegedly held without due process and faced language barriers that prevented them from accessing legal representation or effectively communicating with the authorities during their incarceration.The five surviving Nigerians have since returned to Abuja, where they were received by officials of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies. The Federal Government has pledged to support their rehabilitation while continuing diplomatic engagement with Côte d’Ivoire over the incident.The Nigerian government said it remains committed to protecting the rights and welfare of its citizens abroad and will continue pursuing justice through diplomatic channels. As of the time of reporting, the Ivorian government had not publicly responded to Nigeria’s request for an explanation and compensation.
