Five Nigerian nationals who were released from detention in Côte d’Ivoire have arrived in Abuja following months of diplomatic efforts by the Federal Government to secure their freedom.
The returnees were received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, alongside the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, and other government officials.
In a statement issued by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Magnus Eze, the returnees were identified as Malam Nasiru Umar, Shamsu Abubakar, Sa’adu Bello, Lyman Mohammed and Aliyu Malami. The statement also revealed that a sixth detainee, Usama Murtala, died shortly after the group’s release.
According to the ministry, the six men travelled by road from Sokoto to Abidjan on a business trip in August 2025 but were arrested and detained without formal charges or trial.
The Federal Government said it only became aware of their detention in April 2026, prompting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to direct the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan to intervene. Diplomatic engagements by the embassy and the ministry eventually secured their release.
However, the ministry disclosed that Murtala, who reportedly developed health complications while in custody due to poor prison conditions and inadequate medical care, died on June 24, 2026, one day after regaining his freedom.
“Usama Murtala became seriously ill because of the harsh prison conditions and limited access to medical care. Sadly, he died a day after the group was released and was buried in Côte d’Ivoire according to Islamic rites after consultations with his family,” the statement said.
Speaking during the reception, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the prolonged detention was worsened because Nigerian authorities were unaware of the men’s situation for several months.
“There was no charge sheet. There was no trial. They were simply detained and taken to prison,” the minister said.
She explained that language barriers prevented the detainees from communicating effectively in the French-speaking country or obtaining legal assistance.
“They could not speak English in an environment where French was spoken. They never really stood a chance,” she added.
The minister described Murtala’s death as a painful reminder of the dangers many young Nigerians face when travelling abroad in search of better opportunities.
“Many of our citizens imprisoned overseas are vulnerable young people seeking opportunities but often become trapped in unfamiliar legal systems they do not understand. Usama’s story is a tragic reminder of the risks associated with such journeys,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that the Federal Government would pursue compensation from the Ivorian authorities over the circumstances surrounding the detention and death of the young man.
“We will be taking up the case with the Ivorian authorities for compensation,” she stated.
She also urged Nigerians to avoid risky migration routes and warned that many citizens serving prison terms abroad were arrested while attempting irregular migration through foreign countries.
The minister said the intervention reflected President Bola Tinubu’s Citizen Diplomacy initiative under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises the welfare and protection of Nigerians living abroad.
She further appealed to the Sokoto State Government to support the returnees through rehabilitation, skills acquisition and empowerment programmes to help them rebuild their lives after the traumatic experience.
Speaking on behalf of the returnees, Aliyu Malami expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for securing their release.
“We travelled to Côte d’Ivoire for business, but we found ourselves in detention under very difficult conditions. The language barrier made it impossible for us to explain ourselves. We are grateful to the Nigerian government for bringing us home,” he said.
The returnees were later presented with support packages from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency and other government agencies before departing to reunite with their families in Sokoto State.
