Zimbabwean Bishop Arrested In Nigeria, Church Tensions Rise

Zimbabwean Bishop Arrested In Nigeria, Church Tensions Rise

A Zimbabwean bishop of the United Methodist Church, Eben K. Nhiwatiwa has been arrested In Nigeria.

Ireporteronline understands that the clergyman had visited Nigeria to meet with the members of the church in order to kick start the process of electing a new bishop of the church in Nigeria after the resignation of the former bishop, John Wesley Yohanna.

However, he was arrested in Yola, Adamawa State and whisked to the Abuja headquarters of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

In a statement signed by pastor Salisu Waziri and made available to journalists in Jalingo, Taraba State on Sunday, the church expressed sadness at the arrest and urged relevant authorities to as a matter of urgency wade in by ensuring his immediate release.

Alleging that some members of the breakaway faction of the church are behind the arrest, Waziri said operatives of the NIS went ahead to detain the clergyman despite having all his required documents.

Report has indicated that the church, has been factionalized since the last international conference in the United States of America where some members supported same sex marriage.

At the time of filing this report, the Taraba State Government has closed all the branches of the church spread across the state.

The aim, according to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Charles Maijankai, is to prevent breakdown of law and order among the members who are struggling to take control of the church property.

It was alleged that there are plans to use security operatives to arrest more members of the church, including pastors.

“Bishop Nhiwatiwa arrived Yola Town, Adamawa State, venue for the first meeting with the members of the Southern Nigerian Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria but was on Friday 23 August 2024, whisked away at the venue of the meeting by Nigerian Immigration Service, Adamawa State Command, for questioning.

“After several hours of detention in the Yola Immigration office, Bishop Nhiwatiwa was later confined to his hotel with guards before being taken to Abuja on Saturday 24 August 2024 in company of an Immigration officer to the Immigration Headquarters in Abuja Nigeria’s capital where he is currently detained,” The statement added.