The Federal Government has demanded compensation from the government of Côte d’Ivoire following the death of a Nigerian trader, Usama Murtala, while in detention at the MACA Prison in Abidjan.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu summoned the Ivorian Ambassador to Nigeria to seek an explanation over the incident and Nigeria’s concerns.
According to the minister, Usama and five other traders from Sokoto State travelled by road to Abidjan for business in August 2025 but were arrested and detained without charge or trial. They were eventually released after diplomatic intervention by the Nigerian Mission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu accused the Ivorian authorities of failing to notify the Nigerian government of the detention, denying the traders access to legal representation, and subjecting them to poor conditions, including inadequate feeding. She said one of the detainees died in custody while two others became critically ill.
The minister also alleged that the traders’ phones, money and other personal belongings were not returned after their release.
She called for a thorough investigation into the incident, compensation for the family of the deceased, and assurances that Nigerians in Côte d’Ivoire would be treated with dignity in the future.
In response, the Ivorian ambassador expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and the Nigerian government, pledging to convey Nigeria’s concerns to the authorities in Abidjan.
