Nigeria has formally demanded compensation from the government of Côte d'Ivoire following the death of a 24-year-old Nigerian trader, Usama Murtala, who died while in custody at the Maison d'Arrêt et de Correction d'Abidjan (MACA) prison. The demand was made by Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, during a meeting with Côte d'Ivoire's ambassador to Nigeria, Kalilou Traore, on Friday, according to a statement issued by the ministry's media aide, Magnus Eze.
Background of the Incident
Murtala was among six Nigerian traders who reportedly traveled by road from Sokoto State to Abidjan in August 2025 for legitimate business purposes. The group also included Aliyu Malami, Nasiru Umar, Shamsu Abubakar, Sa'adu Bello, and Liman Mohammed. They were arrested and detained at MACA Prison in Abidjan without being charged or brought to trial. The five surviving traders were recently released following diplomatic efforts by the Nigerian mission in Côte d'Ivoire and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja earlier this week, where the minister received them.
Minister's Concerns
Odumegwu-Ojukwu questioned why the Ivorian authorities failed to notify the Nigerian government of the arrests, stating that the lack of communication delayed diplomatic intervention. She noted that the traders, who had traveled for legitimate business, faced language barriers in the French-speaking country and were denied access to legal representation. According to the minister, the detainees were imprisoned without being informed of any charges and endured harsh conditions, including being fed only once a day. She said two of the men became critically ill during their detention, with Murtala later dying in custody. She also alleged that the traders' mobile phones, goods, money, and other personal belongings were not returned after their release.
Demand for Compensation and Accountability
Calling for accountability, the minister urged the Ivorian government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrests and detention and to ensure that Nigerian nationals are treated with dignity in future. “We seek compensation for the dead young man’s family and a commitment that Côte d’Ivoire will, going forward, treat our nationals with dignity,” she said.
Ivorian Envoy's Response
Responding, Ambassador Traore expressed condolences to Murtala’s family and to Nigeria, assuring the minister that he would promptly convey the concerns raised to the authorities in Abidjan.
