Nigeria Demands Answers Over Death of Citizen in Ivory Coast

The Nigerian government summoned Ivorian Ambassador Kalil Traor on Friday to demand an explanation for the death of Nigerian citizen Usama Murtala in an Abidjan prison. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, is requesting compensation for Murtala's family and has called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Murtala was among five Nigerians detained in Côte d'Ivoire without charge or trial after being arrested during a trade trip to Abidjan in August last year. The five survivors were recently released and reported poor conditions, including lack of legal representation and inadequate nutrition.

The Ministry expressed concern over the lack of notification regarding the detention of the six citizens and emphasized the need for proper communication from Ivorian authorities. The Nigerian government is committed to ensuring that the case is addressed with dignity and seriousness, and the ambassador conveyed the federal government's concerns to the Ivorian authorities.