The Federal Government has demanded a full explanation from the authorities in Côte d’Ivoire over the death of a 24-year-old Nigerian trader, Usama Murtala, who reportedly died after being incarcerated in an Ivorian prison, while also seeking compensation for his family.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the demand on Friday when she summoned the Ivorian Ambassador to Nigeria, Kalilou Traore, to her office in Abuja over the incident.
The minister called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Murtala’s death and urged the Ivorian government to provide appropriate compensation to his bereaved family.
Murtala was among six young Nigerians—Aliyu Malami, Nasiru Umar, Shamsu Abubakar, Sa’adu Bello and Liman Mohammed—who travelled by road from Sokoto to Abidjan in August last year on a trading trip.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the six traders were arrested and detained at the MACA Prison in Abidjan without being charged or tried. Five of them were recently released following sustained diplomatic engagements by the Nigerian Mission in Côte d’Ivoire and interventions by the Ministry.
While receiving the five survivors at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Tuesday, Odumegwu-Ojukwu had pledged that the Federal Government would pursue justice over Murtala’s death and seek compensation from the Ivorian authorities.
During Friday’s meeting, the minister questioned why Nigerian authorities were not informed of the traders’ arrest and detention, noting that the failure to notify Nigeria delayed diplomatic intervention.
She described the victims as legitimate traders who had travelled to Côte d’Ivoire for business, stressing that they faced significant communication challenges because they could not speak French and were denied access to legal representation throughout their detention.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also raised concerns over the personal belongings of the traders, including their mobile phones, goods, money and other valuables, which she said were not returned to them after their release.
She informed Ambassador Traore that the five survivors had since returned to their home state of Sokoto and urged him to convey Nigeria’s concerns to the authorities in Abidjan.
The minister further called for a comprehensive investigation into the incident and secured a commitment from the Ivorian envoy that Nigerian nationals would henceforth be treated with dignity and in accordance with international legal standards.
The Federal Government said it would continue to engage the Ivorian authorities to ensure accountability over the incident and safeguard the rights and welfare of Nigerians living and doing business abroad.
