The crisis within the United Methodist Church in Nigeria has escalated with the arrest of Zimbabwean bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa. Nhiwatiwa was in Nigeria to initiate the process of electing a new bishop following the resignation of former bishop John Wesley Yohanna. He was detained in Yola, Adamawa State, and subsequently transported to the Nigerian Immigration Service headquarters in Abuja.
In a statement issued from Jalingo, Taraba State, the church expressed deep concern over the arrest and called for immediate intervention to secure his release. The church suspects that members of a breakaway faction are behind the arrest, noting that Nhiwatiwa had all the necessary documents.
Since the recent international conference in the U.S., where some members supported same-sex marriage, the church has been divided. This division has led to the Taraba State Government shutting down all church branches in the state to prevent unrest among members vying for control of church assets.
The church reported that Nhiwatiwa was detained briefly in Yola before being moved to Abuja on August 24, 2024, where he remains under guard. An anonymous immigration officer stated that only the national headquarters could address inquiries about the bishop’s situation.