Questions are mounting over the death of a Nigerian citizen in Côte d’Ivoire, as the Federal Government has summoned the Ivorian Ambassador to Nigeria, Kalilou Traore, over the death of Nigerian trader Usama Murtala while in detention in the West African country, demanding answers from Ivorian authorities.
The move followed growing concerns over the circumstances surrounding his death and the treatment of other Nigerians previously held alongside him.
The matter was raised by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, during a meeting with the envoy in Abuja after the release and return of five other Nigerians who were detained with the deceased. The six men, all traders from Sokoto State, travelled by road to Abidjan in August 2025 but were arrested and detained at MACA Prison without charge or trial.
The five survivors were later freed following sustained diplomatic interventions by the Nigerian Mission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Concerns were raised that Nigerian authorities were not informed of the arrests, a situation said to have delayed diplomatic intervention. It was also noted that language barriers hindered communication and limited access to legal representation for the detainees.
The detainees were reportedly held in poor conditions, with accounts indicating they were fed once daily, while two became critically ill and one later died without any official explanation for the prolonged detention.
The Federal Government is also demanding the return of confiscated items, including phones, money, goods, and other personal belongings taken at the time of arrest. In response, the Ivorian Ambassador expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and assured that Nigeria’s concerns would be conveyed to authorities in Abidjan.
