NIS Cites Violation Of Immigration Laws For Arrest, Repatriation Of Zimbabwean Bishop

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) yesterday said it arrested and repatriated Zimbabwean Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa of the United Methodist Church over a violation of Nigeria’s Immigration Laws.

In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP, the service spokesperson, DCI Kenneth Udo, explained that, “Mr Eben K. Nhiwatawi, a Zimbabwean Bishop, was apprehended in Yola, Adamawa State over violation of immigration protocols.”

The statement stated that the Bishop, who arrived in the country on August 21, 2024, with a Tourist Visa (F5A) meant solely for tourism purposes, was discovered to be participating in the Methodist Church leadership election process, a clear violation of the terms and privileges associated with the Tourist Visa as provided in the Nigeria Visa Policy 2024.

According to the statement, the service is the “In light of the above, the comptroller-general, with ministerial approval, ordered his immediate repatriation from the country.”

The service warned that while it encourages the lawful inflow of foreign direct investment ( FDI) and individuals engaging in business and social activities as key facilitators of economic growth and development, it will not tolerate any violation of the country’s immigration laws.

It buttressed that the NIS remains committed to preserving the country’s national security and will continue to monitor foreigners’ activities for this purpose.

Recall that it was widely reported that a United Methodist Church Zimbabwe’s Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa, was arrested last Friday, August 23, by authorities in Nigeria while on a mission to facilitate the election of a new church leader to replace the outgoing Bishop John Wesley Yohanna, who recently resigned and joined the Global Methodist Church which is anti-LGBTQ.

The incident marks the latest encounter in an ongoing conflict in Nigeria between church leaders loyal to the United Methodist Church, factions supporting the breakaway Global Methodist Church, and former bishop John Wesley Yohanna.

LEADERSHIP gathered that Bishop Nhiwatiwa is part of a four-bishop team appointed by the Council of Bishops to administer the troubled Nigeria Episcopal Area after Yohanna and his cabinet resigned in July to join the Global Methodist Church.

The United Methodist Church has been factionalised into two groups, one which is said to support same-sex marriages and another which opposes the practice.