A Nigerian international journalist who gained global attention after being detained by United States security agents during Donald Trump’s first administration has passed away in Egypt.
Saleh Shehu Ashaka, a former correspondent with the Hausa Service of the Voice of America, died on Sunday, May 3, 2026, following a prolonged illness.
His condition had deteriorated while receiving treatment in Cairo.
Former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, confirmed the death in a post on X, describing the Gombe State-born journalist as a monumental loss to the younger generation.
“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,” Pantami wrote, adding that his interviews and discussions with the late journalist would remain firmly grounded in his memory.
He extended condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased, praying for his admission into Jannatul Firdaus.
Ashaka was widely known for his in-depth reporting on Nigerian politics and security, spending decades in the media industry and building a career that bridged African and international media.
He operated primarily from Abuja, where he covered key national issues for VOA Hausa.
He gained international notoriety in 2017 when he was detained and interrogated by US security agents at an American airport during the early months of the first Donald Trump administration.
The incident drew widespread attention to the challenges faced by foreign journalists covering the United States.
The late journalist is survived by two wives and a child.
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