Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, has welcomed home six Nigerian citizens who returned to the country after spending almost a year in detention in Côte d’Ivoire without being formally charged or tried.
The return of the young men, who arrived through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, marked an emotional reunion with their families and officials of the Federal Government.
In a post shared on Thursday, Ojukwu described the homecoming as both joyful and sobering, noting that the six men had travelled to Côte d’Ivoire on a trading mission before finding themselves trapped in a foreign justice system.
“The boys are back! After spending almost a year imprisoned in Abidjan without charge or trial, it was an emotional homecoming for the boys,” she wrote.
She added that the experience of the young Nigerians highlights the plight of many detainees across the world.
“This is a sad reminder of the fact that many of those in detention are not always seen in their full humanity, not always guilty as assumed, and many are just young people caught up in unfamiliar and sometimes unjust systems they do not fully understand.”
The six returnees were identified as Aliyu Malami, Sa’adu Bello, Nasiru Umar, Shamsu Abubakar and Lyman Mohammed.
Ojukwu noted that while the men had regained their freedom, they returned home with painful memories of their ordeal, particularly the loss of their companion, Usama Murtala.
According to the minister, Murtala became seriously ill while in detention and was unable to receive adequate medical care. He later died shortly after the group was released.
“They made it home, but they carry the weight of their ordeal, and the memory of their friend Usama Murtala, who was ill for months in prison with inadequate medical care, and died shortly after they were released. It is the burden of a lifetime,” she stated.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerians living abroad, Ojukwu said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would continue to prioritise the protection of citizens under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in line with the Citizen Diplomacy imperative of the Renewed Hope Agenda remains committed to the securing the welfare and protection of our nationals abroad,” she said.
The minister also expressed appreciation to the National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) for joining officials at the airport to receive the returnees.
She further thanked Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making the welfare of Nigerians abroad a priority of the country’s foreign policy.
“Welcome back home, Boys!” Ojukwu concluded.