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Remember Deketeke-Herald Correspondent
Nigeria Immigration Service has released a press statement confirming that United Methodist Church, Zimbabwe Episcopal Area resident Bishop Eben Kanukayi Nhiwatiwa, was detained and expelled after violating their immigration protocols.
“On August 24, 2024, Mr Eben K. Nhiwatiwa, a Zimbabwean Bishop, was apprehended in Yola, Adamawa State over violation of Immigration protocols,” read the statement.
The press release flies in the face of Bishop Nhiwatiwa’s denial that he was arrested in Nigeria after he had gone there to oversee the nomination and transition process of a new UMC bishop in Nigeria to replace the outgoing Bishop John Wesley Yohanna, who recently resigned and joined the Global Methodist Church.
The Nigerian Immigration Services said Bishop Nhiwatiwa breached the limitations and conditions of his visa.
“The bishop arrived in the country on August 21, 2024, on a tourist visa (F5A) meant solely for tourism purposes,” read the statement.
“However, he was discovered to be participating in Methodist Church leadership election process which is in clear violation of the terms and privileges associated with the tourist visa as provided in the Nigeria Visa Policy 2024.
“In light of the above, the Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service, with ministerial approval, ordered his immediate repatriation from the country.”
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