Freed Nigerian national reaches home, thanks Nagaland govt.

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Dec. 19: Nigerian national Nweze Raymond Chinenyeuba, who was freed from Dimapur jail on Nov. 24 after being confined for two years, two months and 16 days, has finally reached his home state Ebonyi in Nigeria.

Chinenyeuba was apprehended by Dimapur police on Sep. 7, 2016 for not possessing a valid visa for which he was sentenced to a simple imprisonment of eight months and 17 days by a chief judicial magistrate for contravention of Foreigners Act, 1946. He completed his prison term on May 25, 2017 but was confined in the jail for 17 more months after the Union government delayed his deportation order.

The Nigerian national, who left Nagaland on Nov. 27 after receiving clearance from the MHA, has informed this newspaper in an email that he has reached home safely. He thanked Nagaland government, Nagaland Home Commissioner Ramaiah Ramakrishnan, advisor to Nagaland’s power department Tovihoto Ayemi, and Mughagho Aye for helping him during his difficult times. He also thanked Dimapur-based S Solomon Shaikh, who he described as “his angel” and “good Samaritan,” for fighting every odds for his freedom.

It may be mentioned that Ramakrishnan gave cash to Chinenyeuba to buy clothes, Ayemi bought his flight ticket from Dimapur to Nigeria, and Aye bore his travel expenses.

The man, who became a ‘God-fearing’ and preached the gospel to the inmates during the course of his stay in the jail, wrote that he would pray for the government of Nagaland so that the innocent may not face the ordeal he underwent.

“The world should know that a Christan man, a reverend, was languishing in Indian jail in a Christian state, but a Muslim man worked hardest despite severe challenges to free the man from jail and had also facilitated the man’s return journey through two Samaritans,” he wrote in the email.

“May God continue to bless government of Nagaland,” he wrote. He also thanked Eastern Mirror and its reporter Haichikambe Pame for covering his plight.

“I will remain faithful and humble to you. Thank you, God bless Nagaland,” he concluded.