FG Confirms One Death as Five Nigerians Rescued From Côte d’Ivoire Prison

The Federal Government has received five Nigerian citizens rescued from detention in Côte d’Ivoire, disclosing that a sixth member of the group died shortly after regaining his freedom following months of imprisonment in the West African country.

The returnees were received on Tuesday evening at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, alongside the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, and other government officials.

The five returnees; Aliyu Malami, Nasiru Umar, Shamsu Abubakar, Sa’adu Bello and Lyman Mohammed, were among six young Nigerians who travelled from Sokoto to Abidjan by road in August 2025 on what they described as a business trip.

They were subsequently arrested by Ivorian authorities and detained in MACA Prison without being formally charged or tried.

The sixth member of the group, Usama Murtala, reportedly became ill while in detention. He died on June 24, 2026, at a critical care hospital in Abidjan, a day after the detainees were released following diplomatic intervention by the Nigerian government.

He was buried the following day in Côte d’Ivoire in accordance with Islamic rites after consultations with his family in Sokoto.

Speaking during the reception, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigerian authorities were unaware of the group’s detention until April this year, when the matter was brought to the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She explained that the ministry immediately engaged the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan, whose sustained diplomatic efforts with the Ivorian government eventually secured the release of the detainees.

“There was no charge sheet. There was no trial. They were simply detained and taken to prison,” the minister said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu attributed much of the ordeal to language barriers, noting that the young Nigerians were unable to communicate effectively in French or obtain legal representation while in custody.

“They could not speak English in an environment where French was spoken. They never really stood a chance,” she said.

The minister described the death of Usama Murtala as a tragic reminder of the risks faced by many young Nigerians who travel abroad in search of economic opportunities without adequate knowledge of the legal and social systems in their destination countries.

According to her, many Nigerians imprisoned overseas are vulnerable youths who become entangled in unfamiliar judicial processes.

“Usama’s story remains a painful reminder of how fragile life can be for young people who set out on these journeys to unfamiliar environment with unfamiliar systems without knowing what await them,” she said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that the Federal Government would seek compensation from the Ivorian authorities over the circumstances surrounding the detention of the Nigerians and the death of Murtala.

“We will be taking up the case with the Ivorian authorities for compensation,” she said.

She also cautioned Nigerians against embarking on irregular journeys abroad in search of better opportunities, noting that many citizens currently imprisoned in foreign countries were arrested while transiting through unfamiliar territories.

The minister said the intervention reflected President Bola Tinubu’s Citizen Diplomacy policy under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises the welfare and protection of Nigerians wherever they may be.

She appealed to the Sokoto State Government to support the rehabilitation of the five returnees through empowerment and skills acquisition programmes.

According to her, the Federal Government has already written to the Sokoto State Government, requesting assistance to help the young men reintegrate into society after enduring months of hardship and trauma.

Speaking on behalf of the returnees, Aliyu Malami recounted that what began as a business trip ended in prolonged detention under harsh conditions.

He said the group’s inability to communicate in French made it impossible for them to explain themselves to the authorities.

Malami expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for facilitating their release and return to Nigeria, adding that he hoped to rebuild his life through legitimate business.

The returnees also received relief packages from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other government agencies before departing Abuja for Sokoto to reunite with their families.