Stella Omona: The federal government has welcomed back five Nigerian citizens who were freed after being held for an extended period at MACA Prison in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, thanks to efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Individuals returning home, who landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, were greeted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, along with the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, and several high-ranking government figures, according to an announcement made on Wednesday.
Five returning individuals — Aliyu Malami, Nasiru Umar, Shamsu Abubakar, Sa'adu Bello, and Lyman Mohammed — were members of a team of six young men from Sokoto State who journeyed by land to Côte d'Ivoire for a business trip in August 2025.
Ivorian officials apprehended them and held them for multiple months without formal charges or trial. Tragically, one of those detained, Usama Murtala, passed away not long after being released.
As stated by the Minister, Murtala fell very sick during detention and did not receive sufficient medical care. He passed away in a intensive care unit on June 24, 2026, one day after the prisoners were set free, and was interred the next day in Côte d'Ivoire according to Muslim traditions following discussions with his relatives in Sokoto State.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated that the Nigerian administration had not been informed about the arrest of the individuals until April 2026, at which point she became aware. She mentioned that she promptly instructed the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan to take action, resulting in ongoing diplomatic efforts that ultimately led to their freedom.
"There was no formal accusation. No court hearing took place. They were just arrested and sent to jail," the minister stated, highlighting the situation leading to their imprisonment as extremely concerning.
She credited much of the difficulty to communication challenges, pointing out that the young men, who didn’t know French, struggled to interact with officials or obtain legal help in a French-speaking nation.
"They weren't able to speak English in a place where French was used. They had little hope of success," she said.
The official referred to Murtala's passing as a sorrowful example of the risks involved in unauthorized movement and the susceptibility of youthful Nigerians who go overseas seeking improved prospects but lack awareness of the legal frameworks in the nations they enter.
"Several of our detainees abroad are at-risk youth who depart their homes seeking chances, ensnared in legal or unfair structures they fail to comprehend and end up overwhelmed by them. Usama's tale serves as an agonizing reminder of how delicate life can be for young individuals undertaking these paths," she stated.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu revealed that the federal government intends to address the issue with Ivorian officials and request reimbursement regarding the situation involving Murtala's arrest and demise.
She further encouraged Nigerians to refrain from taking dangerous and unauthorized trips abroad, cautioning that numerous nationals who end up incarcerated overseas are typically detained during transit in other nations.
As she explained, the government's involvement demonstrates the Citizen Diplomacy initiative within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Vision, which prioritizes the well-being and safety of Nigerians living overseas. The minister urged the Sokoto State Government to assist in the recovery and successful readjustment of those returning home via training and development initiatives.
She stated that the federal government had previously contacted the Sokoto state authorities seeking help for the five youths, pointing out that they had suffered significant emotional distress and difficult conditions while imprisoned and were entitled to support in rebuilding their lives.
On behalf of those who returned, Aliyu Malami stated that what started as a commercial journey ended up being several months of imprisonment under severe circumstances, mainly because of communication difficulties that stopped them from clarifying their case to officials.
He thanked the federal government for arranging their freedom and ensuring their secure repatriation to Nigeria, vowing to reconstruct his life via lawful commercial endeavors.
The returning individuals were provided with aid supplies by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and additional governmental bodies prior to their journey to Sokoto State, where they will likely be reunited with their loved ones.
Supplied by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).