Zimbabwean bishop held by Nigerian immigration

Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa of the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe has reportedly been detained by Nigerian Immigration authorities, sparking concerns over his treatment and the circumstances surrounding his visit.

Despite arriving in Nigeria on August 21, 2024, with all necessary documentation to oversee the election of a new bishop for the church’s Nigerian chapter, his visit took a troubling turn.

The bishop’s detention occurred during a meeting with church members in Yola, Adamawa State, on August 23, 2024, when he was unexpectedly taken into custody by immigration officers.

After several hours of questioning at the Yola Immigration office, he was confined to his hotel under guard before being transferred to Abuja on August 24, where he is currently being held at the Immigration Headquarters.

Concerns have been raised that this detention is linked to internal power struggles within the United Methodist Church in Nigeria. Allegations suggest that a former bishop may be orchestrating the detention to maintain control over church assets and obstruct the election process.

Salisu Waziri, a journalist with Voice of Nigeria and a church member assigned to receive Bishop Nhiwatiwa at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, provided insights into the situation.

He stated that upon arrival at the immigration headquarters in Abuja, he spoke with an immigration officer, Mr. Mathias Madug, who revealed that the Yola immigration office had interrogated the bishop and found no discrepancies in his documents.

“At the immigration office in Yola, we interrogated this bishop and all his papers are intact. I wonder why they will have to send him back to the immigration headquarters in Abuja for further questioning,” Madug noted.

Waziri further elaborated on the situation, stating, “Well, I know there’s something wrong at the top because I learned that the other faction of the church went to the immigration headquarters in Abuja to file a complaint against the bishop.”

He speculated that the opposing faction might have financed their travel to Abuja, raising suspicions about the motivations behind the bishop’s detention.

Upon their arrival at the immigration headquarters around 8 PM, Waziri noted that there were no senior officials available to address the situation, with only a few immigration security officers present. It has been reported that Bishop Nhiwatiwa was denied access to his personal medications and luggage from the Yola Immigration Office. He was subsequently placed in the immigration headquarters guest house while awaiting further instructions from either the Yola office or Abuja headquarters.

There are also allegations that a former bishop of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria, who has since joined the Global Methodist Church (GMC), is behind the bishop’s ordeal. This could be part of a broader strategy to disrupt the election process for a new bishop and to transfer church properties to the GMC.

When approached for comment, Mr. Kenneth Udo, spokesman for the Nigeria Immigration Service, expressed a lack of awareness regarding the incident, promising to investigate further. “I don’t have any knowledge of the incident. But currently I am not in Abuja, but I will find out what the issue is all about and get back to you,” he stated, although no further information has been provided as of yet.

The situation has escalated to the point where the Taraba State Government has reportedly closed all branches of the United Methodist Church across the state to prevent potential unrest among members vying for control of church properties. Charles Maijankai, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, indicated that there are plans to deploy security operatives to arrest additional church members and pastors.

In a statement issued by the church, signed by Pastor Salisu Waziri, it was confirmed that Bishop Nhiwatiwa was taken from a meeting venue by the Nigerian Immigration Service on August 23.

The church emphasizes the importance of addressing the bishop’s detention and the broader implications for its members in Nigeria.