Five indigenes of Cross River State and two babies were among 64 Nigerians arrested by Ugandan immigration authorities during a raid on a religious gathering in Kampala, Uganda.
Reports said the operation was carried out by Uganda’s National Citizenship and Immigration Control (NCIC) over allegations of illegal church activities and immigration violations.
The affected Cross Riverians were identified among the detained Nigerians after Ugandan authorities stormed the gathering in late April 2026.
Authorities claimed many of those arrested lacked valid work permits and immigration documents required to conduct religious activities in the country.
Sources familiar with the matter said the detained Nigerians, including the two infants, were being held while negotiations continued between community representatives, Nigerian officials, and Ugandan authorities.
There were also concerns that some detainees had been denied immediate legal access following their arrest.
Ugandan authorities later reportedly demanded about 400 dollars from each detainee as part of administrative and immigration-related processing, warning that failure to comply could lead to prosecution.
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The incident has sparked concern among Nigerians both at home and abroad, with calls for diplomatic intervention to secure the release and safe return of those detained
