File photo: The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu
The Federal Government on Friday summoned the Ivorian Ambassador to Nigeria, Kalilou Traore, demanding an explanation over the death of a Nigerian, Usama Murtala, while in custody in Côte d’Ivoire.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, raised the issue during a meeting with the envoy at her office in Abuja following the recent release of five other Nigerians who were detained alongside the deceased in Abidjan, the Special Assistant on Communications and New Media to the minister, Magnus Eze, said in a statement made available to Saturday PUNCH on Friday.
Murtala and five other Nigerians—Aliyu Malami, Nasiru Umar, Shamsu Abubakar, Sa’adu Bello and Liman Mohammed—had travelled by road from Sokoto to Abidjan on a trading trip in August 2025 when they were arrested and detained in the MACA Prison without charge or trial.
The five survivors were recently freed after sustained engagements by the Nigerian Mission and diplomatic interventions by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
