from EMEKA OKONKWO in Abuja, Nigeria
Nigeria Bureau
ABUJA, (CAJ News) – NIGERIA is demanding a probe into the detention of six young traders, leading to the death of one, in the fellow West African country, Ivory Coast.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted it would seek justice on behalf of the affected families, including that of the deceased, identified as Usama Murtala, following the individuals’ incarceration at the Abidjan Detention and Correctional Centre, the capital’s largest and most notorious prison.
They had been detained since late 2025.
Following their detention without charge or trial, they were recently released after diplomatic interventions by the ministry and engagements by Nigeria’s embassy in Ivory Coast.
Nigeria argues it was not informed of their arrest and detention, which delayed the necessary diplomatic intervention that might have saved the life of the deceased.
It said the young men, who were on a trading trip, could not communicate effectively because of language barriers and did not have access to legal representation in the French-speaking country.
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, met Ivory Coast’s Ambassador, Kalilou Traore, this past weekend to demand an explanation from the Ivorian authorities over the circumstances that led to the detention.
Nigeria is demanding compensation for the family of Murtala, who is said to have died shortly after his release because of the harsh prison conditions and inadequate healthcare while in custody.
“We also demand that the seized phones, money and other property belonging to the traders, which were not handed back to them after their release, be returned,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
Nigeria is demanding an undertaking from the Ivorian authorities that, going forward, they will promptly communicate any arrest or detention of its nationals to the Nigerian Embassy and treat Nigerian nationals in their country with dignity.
Traore is quoted as expressing his apologies and condolences to the family of the deceased Nigerian and the government over the incident, which he described as unfortunate and regrettable.
An activist is demanding that all six youths be compensated.
“Enough with African countries trying to ridicule the giant of Africa. We are the most populous Black nation on earth,” he said.
Friction has previously marred relations between Ivory Coast and Nigeria.
This dates back to 1968 when Ivory Coast recognised the secessionist State of Biafra as a sovereign nation separate from Nigeria.
The most severe modern rift occurred after the disputed 2010 Ivorian presidential election.
Nigeria was forced to evacuate all its diplomats from Abidjan after the Nigerian Embassy was attacked during the violence.
Nigeria led the regional bloc in recognising Alassane Ouattara as the winner and pushed aggressively for military intervention to forcibly remove the incumbent, Laurent Gbagbo, causing diplomatic fury from Gbagbo’s regime.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu assumed office in March this year, coinciding with Nigeria facing diplomatic challenges, especially with South Africa, where it is evacuating its nationals because of escalating xenophobic tensions.
Nigeria has formally requested financial compensation from South Africa for its citizens who were forced to abandon their businesses, homes and properties while fleeing anti-migrant protests.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu was recently in Ethiopia to finalise the transfer of more than 100 Nigerian prisoners in the East African country.
She negotiated for the inmates to return home to Nigeria to serve the remainder of their sentences.
Nigeria reports that four prisoners have already died in Ethiopian prisons.
– CAJ News