In a recent operation, Indian authorities detained eight Nigerian nationals in Delhi for residing without valid visas and passports. The individuals were apprehended during a patrol in the Vipin Garden area near Poswal Chowk, Mohan Garden, as part of the strategic operation ‘VARCHASV’ aimed at identifying and deporting foreign nationals overstaying in the country. The detained individuals failed to produce valid visas upon request and were subsequently produced before the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), which ordered their deportation.
This incident is part of a broader crackdown by Indian authorities on illegal immigration. In August 2022, five foreign nationals, including three Nigerians, were deported from Delhi for overstaying their visas. Similarly, in November 2022, thirty foreign nationals, among them twenty-seven Nigerians, were held for overstaying in India without valid visas and were processed for deportation.
The Indian government has been intensifying efforts to identify and deport foreign nationals residing illegally. These operations often involve coordinated actions by various law enforcement agencies and are part of ongoing measures to uphold immigration laws and national security.
Nigerian authorities have acknowledged these developments and are working with their Indian counterparts to ensure the safe return of their citizens. The Nigerian High Commission in India continues to monitor the situation and provide necessary assistance to affected individuals.
