Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu officially summoned the Ivorien Ambassador to Nigeria, Kalilou Traore, on Friday. This action follows the passing of Usama Murtala while in state custody in Ivory Coast.
Murtala was part of a group of six Nigerians from Sokoto State who traveled to Abidjan for business in August 2025. This group included Aliyu Malami, Shamsu Abubakar, Nasiru Umar, Liman Mohammed, and Sa’adu Bello. Upon arrival, all six were taken into custody at MACA Prison in Abidjan and held indefinitely without trial.
Diplomatic efforts by the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs eventually secured the release of the five survivors. During the discussion with Ambassador Traore, Minister Ojukwu formally requested compensation for the family of the deceased. She highlighted that two of the freed individuals are currently suffering from severe malnutrition due to the prison’s practice of providing only one meal per day. While the survivors have since returned home, the Minister emphasized the lasting distress caused by the death of their companion.
