By Fatima Saka
Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government has secured the release of five Nigerians who were detained without charge in Côte d’Ivoire for nearly a year, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, confirmed that one of the detainees died shortly after regaining freedom.
The returnees were received on Tuesday evening at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the minister alongside the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, and other officials.
The group, comprising six young men from Sokoto State, had travelled to Abidjan on a trading trip in August 2025 but were arrested and held at the MACA Prison without trial. Their release followed sustained diplomatic engagements by the Nigerian Mission in Abidjan and intervention by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the matter was brought to the minister’s attention in April 2026.
However, tragedy struck as one of them, Usama Murtala, died on June 24, 2026, a day after their release, following illness attributed to poor prison conditions and inadequate medical care. He was subsequently buried in Côte d’Ivoire in accordance with Islamic rites after consultation with his family.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu decried the circumstances surrounding their detention, noting that Nigerian authorities were not informed, which delayed intervention.
“There was no charge sheet. There was no trial. They were simply detained and taken to prison,” she said.
She attributed their ordeal partly to language barriers, explaining that the detainees were unable to communicate effectively or access legal representation in the French-speaking country.
“They could not speak English in an environment where French was spoken. They never really stood a chance,” the minister added.
The minister described the incident as a reflection of the vulnerability faced by many Nigerians abroad, particularly those involved in irregular migration.
“Usama’s story remains a painful reminder of how fragile life can be for young people who set out on these journeys to unfamiliar environments,” she said, adding that Nigeria would pursue compensation from Ivorian authorities.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also warned Nigerians against undertaking risky journeys in search of opportunities overseas, stressing that many detained abroad are often caught in unfamiliar legal systems.
She said the government’s intervention aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Citizen Diplomacy initiative under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises the welfare of Nigerians globally.
The minister further appealed to the Sokoto State Government to support the rehabilitation of the returnees through skill acquisition and reintegration programmes, noting that they had endured severe trauma.
She disclosed that the Federal Government had formally written to the Sokoto State Government to facilitate their reintegration.
One of the returnees, Aliyu Malami, recounted his experience, stating that language barriers made it impossible for them to explain their situation to authorities.
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He expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government for securing their release and pledged to rebuild his life through legitimate business.
The returnees were provided support packages by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other agencies, and are expected to reunite with their families in Sokoto on Wednesday.
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