Usama Murtala Dies Day After Release from Abidjan Prison
A young Nigerian trader from Sokoto, Usama Murtala, has died in Côte d'Ivoire, just one day after being freed from detention at MACA prison in Abidjan. Murtala and five colleagues had been held without charge or trial for months while trading in mobile phone parts.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, posted about the ordeal on her official X account on Wednesday, revealing that Murtala and his friends had traveled to Abidjan to trade in mobile phone parts when they were arrested under suspicious circumstances.
Arrest and Detention Without Charge
The group, all young men in their twenties, had been detained since last year with no formal charges brought against them. Their families in Sokoto were unaware of the full scale of the crisis unfolding abroad.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the case was brought to her attention in April 2026, and that when she reached out to the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan, officials had not yet been informed of the arrests by the Ivorian authorities.
Diplomatic Efforts and Release
Following sustained diplomatic engagement by the Nigerian Mission in Abidjan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the group was eventually secured for release. However, by the time of his release, Murtala's health had deteriorated severely due to inadequate medical attention inside the prison. Embassy officers rushed him to a critical care hospital, but he died the following morning.
"Usama had seen freedom, but did not live long enough to return home and enjoy it," Odumegwu-Ojukwu wrote.
Burial and Family Grief
Murtala was buried in a cemetery on the outskirts of Abidjan, in accordance with Islamic rites, as requested by his parents, with his fellow detainees and Embassy officials in attendance. His mother and siblings in Sokoto had reportedly been preparing to welcome him home at the time of his death.
Survivors Returning to Nigeria
The five surviving members of the group were confirmed to be returning to Nigeria. Odumegwu-Ojukwu named them as Aliyu Malami, Nasiru Umar, Shamsu Abubakar, Sa'adu Bello, and Lyman Mohammed.
"To the survivors of this harrowing ordeal... we will be there to receive you and celebrate your triumph over adversity," she wrote, adding, "In advance, we say, 'welcome home'."
Government to Take Up Case
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigeria's government would be taking up Murtala's case with the Ivorian authorities, describing his death as a painful illustration of the dangers faced by young Nigerians who travel abroad in search of economic opportunity, often without adequate consular awareness or legal protection.
"This is not just one story. It is a reflection of many," she said, noting that many Nigerians imprisoned overseas are vulnerable young people caught in foreign judicial systems they are ill-equipped to navigate.
