The Federal Government has called for a full investigation into the death of Nigerian trader Usama Murtala, who died while in detention at the MACA Prison in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, summoned the Ivorian Ambassador to Nigeria, Kalilou Traore, to demand an explanation over the incident. The meeting followed the recent release of five other Nigerians who had been detained alongside the deceased.

According to the ministry, the six traders travelled from Sokoto to Abidjan in August 2025 for business but were arrested and detained without charge or trial. The minister criticised the Ivorian authorities for failing to notify the Nigerian Embassy about the arrests, saying the lack of communication delayed diplomatic intervention.

She urged the Ivorian government to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding Murtala's death, compensate his family, and ensure that Nigerian citizens are treated with dignity in future.