Five Nigerians who were detained at the MACA Prison in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, since August 2025 have returned home following the intervention of the Federal Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.
The returnees were received on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, alongside the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, and other government officials.
According to the ministry, six young men from Sokoto State had travelled by road to Abidjan for trading but were arrested and detained without charge or trial. They were identified as Aliyu Malami, Nasiru Umar, Shamsu Abubakar, Sa’adu Bello, Lyman Mohammed, and Usama Murtala.
Following sustained diplomatic engagement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Mission in Côte d’Ivoire, the detainees were released.
However, one of them, Usama Murtala, fell seriously ill while in prison due to inadequate medical care. He died on June 24, 2026, at a critical care hospital, a day after his release. He was buried on June 25 in accordance with Islamic rites after consultations with his family.
“There was no charge sheet. There was no trial. They were simply detained and taken to prison,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said. She explained that Nigerian authorities were not notified of the detention, delaying diplomatic intervention. The minister added that the detainees neither spoke French nor had access to legal representation.
“They could not speak English in an environment where French was spoken. They never really stood a chance,” she said.
Describing Usama’s death as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by Nigerians abroad, particularly those undertaking irregular migration, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said many Nigerians imprisoned overseas are vulnerable young people seeking better opportunities but often become trapped in judicial systems they do not understand.
She disclosed that the Federal Government would pursue Usama’s case with the Ivorian authorities and seek compensation for his family. The minister also cautioned Nigerians against embarking on risky journeys abroad, noting that many citizens imprisoned overseas were intercepted while transiting through foreign countries.
She said the government’s intervention was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its Citizen Diplomacy initiative.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu appealed to the Sokoto State Government to provide rehabilitation and skills acquisition programmes for the five returnees, revealing that the Federal Government had formally requested the state to support their reintegration.
“They have endured severe pain, trauma and hardship, and deserve support to rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the returnees, Aliyu Malami said he travelled to Côte d’Ivoire for business but ended up spending several months in detention under difficult conditions. He said the language barrier prevented them from explaining their situation to the authorities and expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for securing their release.
Malami added that he intends to rebuild his life and return to legitimate business. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency, and other government agencies provided relief packages to the returnees, who are expected to reunite with their families in Sokoto on Wednesday.
