By Favour Ulebor, Abuja
The Federal Government has secured the release of five Nigerians who were detained for about 10 months in MACA Prison, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, following diplomatic intervention by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by her Special Assistant on Communication, Magnus Eze, after receiving the five returnees at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The returnees—Aliyu Malami, Nasiru Umar, Shamsu Abubakar, Sa’adu Bello and Lyman Mohammed—arrived in Abuja on Tuesday evening.
They were among six Nigerians who travelled by road from Sokoto State to Abidjan in August 2025 on a trading trip but were arrested and detained without charge or trial.
