Nigerian Journalist Once Detained By Trump Dies In Egypt

A Nigerian international journalist and former staff of the Hausa Service of Voice of America (VOA), Saleh Shehu Ashaka, has died in Egypt after a prolonged illness.

Ashaka passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2026, after his condition worsened while receiving treatment in Cairo.

His death was confirmed on Sunday by former minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, in a post on X, noting that the Gombe State-born journalist had battled illness for some time.

“Inna lil Laahi wa inna ilaiHi Raaji’un! With a very heavy heart, I heard about the passing of our younger brother, Malam Saleh Shehu Ashaka. This is indeed a monumental loss of one of the most productive members of our younger generation. I had several discussions and interviews with him that will remain well grounded in my memory.”

He extended condolences to the deceased’s family, friends, and colleagues, praying for his admission into Jannatul Firdaus.

The late journalist spent decades in the media industry and was widely known for his work as a VOA Hausa correspondent based in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, where he covered key national issues.

Ashaka gained international attention in 2017 when he was detained and interrogated by US security agents at an American airport during the early months of the Donald Trump’s first administration.

Beyond that episode, he was respected for his in-depth reporting on Nigerian politics and security, building a career that bridged African and international media.

Late Ashaka is survived by two wives and a child.