Nigeria Demands Justice After Trader Dies in Ivorian Custody

'The Government of Nigeria will keep pushing for justice in this matter for the families concerned,' Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.

A young Nigerian trader, Usama Murtala, has been found dead in his cell at MACA prison in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Usama Murtala, 30, had been detained for almost a year, along with five other Nigerian traders, without charge or trial. They had traveled to Côte d'Ivoire on a trading mission.

The traders, Aliyu Malami, Sa'adu Bello, Nasiru Umar, Shamsu Abubakar, Lyman Mohammed, and the late Usama Murtala, were unable to communicate effectively with the Ivorian authorities due to language barriers.

The Nigerian Embassy in Côte d'Ivoire was not informed of the traders' arrest and detention, which delayed necessary diplomatic intervention and consular assistance.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has met with the Ambassador of Côte d'Ivoire to Nigeria, Kalilou Traore, to demand a full-scale inquiry and probe into the circumstances surrounding the traders' detention and Usama Murtala's death.

She also sought to know why the embassy was not informed of the traders' arrest and detention, which she said denied officials the necessary diplomatic intervention that might have saved Usama Murtala's life and also prevented timely consular assistance for the detained Nigerians.

The Federal Government has also demanded compensation for Usama Murtala's family, the return of the traders' phones, money, and other belongings allegedly seized during their arrest.

Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu initiated an undertaking that future arrests or detention of Nigerians would be promptly communicated to the Nigerian Embassy.

Ambassador Traore expressed 'profound apologies and condolences to Usama Murtala's family and the Federal Republic of Nigeria' and pledged to convey Nigeria's concerns and demands to the authorities in Abidjan as soon as possible.

The Federal Government will continue engaging with the Ivorian authorities until issues relating to accountability, compensation, the return of the traders' property, and improved consular notification procedures are fully addressed.

Usama Murtala's death has sparked outrage among Nigerians, who are demanding justice for the young trader and his family.

Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, is a seasoned diplomat with over 20 years of experience in international relations. She was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2024 and has been instrumental in promoting Nigeria's interests abroad.

Côte d'Ivoire has a history of trade and commerce with Nigeria, with both countries being major players in the regional economy. The Ivorian authorities have a reputation for being strict on immigration and border control, which has led to several high-profile cases of detention and deportation of foreign nationals.

The trade dispute between Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire dates back to 2018, when the Ivorian authorities imposed a 30% tariff on Nigerian goods. Nigeria retaliated by imposing a 20% tariff on Ivorian goods, which led to a decline in trade between the two countries.

The Nigerian government has been criticized for its handling of the trade dispute with Côte d'Ivoire. Critics argue that the government has been slow to respond to the crisis and has not done enough to protect the interests of Nigerian traders.

The death of Usama Murtala has sparked outrage among Nigerians, who are demanding justice for the young trader and his family. The Federal Government has promised to take decisive action to address the concerns of Nigerian traders and to ensure that the rights of Nigerian citizens are respected abroad.