The Federal Government has secured the release of five Nigerians who spent about 10 months in detention at the Maison d’Arrêt et de Correction d’Abidjan (MACA) Prison in Côte d’Ivoire following sustained diplomatic efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, received the returnees at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Tuesday, describing their release as a testament to the government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad.
A statement issued on Wednesday by the minister’s Special Assistant on Communication, Magnus Eze, identified the returnees as Aliyu Malami, Nasiru Umar, Shamsu Abubakar, Sa’adu Bello and Lyman Mohammed.
According to the ministry, the five men were among six Nigerians who travelled by road from Sokoto State to Abidjan in August 2025 for business but were arrested and detained without formal charges or trial.
The ministry, however, disclosed that the sixth detainee, Usama Murtala, died shortly after regaining his freedom.
It explained that the minister directed the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan to intervene after the ministry became aware of the detention in April 2026, leading to sustained diplomatic engagements that eventually secured the release of the six Nigerians.
The statement said Murtala fell ill while in detention due to inadequate medical care and died at a critical care hospital on June 24, a day after his release by the Ivorian authorities.
He was buried in Côte d’Ivoire in line with Islamic rites after consultations with his family in Sokoto State.
Speaking during the reception, Odumegwu-Ojukwu lamented that the Nigerian authorities were unaware of the men’s detention for several months, delaying efforts to secure their freedom.
She disclosed that the detainees were neither formally charged nor arraigned before any court throughout their incarceration.
According to the minister, language barriers further worsened their plight, as the men were unable to communicate effectively or access legal representation in the French-speaking country.
She described Murtala’s death as a painful reminder of the risks faced by young Nigerians who travel abroad in search of better opportunities without adequate information or support.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the Federal Government would pursue compensation from the Ivorian authorities over the circumstances surrounding Murtala’s death.
She also advised Nigerians against embarking on unsafe migration journeys, noting that many citizens detained abroad often encounter unfamiliar legal systems that leave them vulnerable.
The minister said the intervention aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Citizen Diplomacy policy under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises the protection and welfare of Nigerians living overseas.
She further appealed to the Sokoto State Government to support the returnees through rehabilitation and skills acquisition programmes to enable them to rebuild their lives.
Responding on behalf of the group, Malami expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for facilitating their release and safe return, saying they endured difficult conditions in detention after travelling to Côte d’Ivoire for business.
He pledged to rebuild his life through legitimate means and thanked the Nigerian authorities for standing by them throughout the process.
The returnees also received support packages from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency and other government agencies before departing Abuja for Sokoto State.
