Two Nigerians were on Friday arrested by the Intelligence unit of Rajasthan police in Srikaranpur, a town near the international border adjacent to Sriganganagar district, for allegedly living in the country illegally and possessing multiple identity documents.

According to Police chief, Anand Sharma, officers received a tip-off from the state intelligence unit that the duo was illegally roaming around the restricted area near the international border after which police traced them.

“During a search, both the foreign nationals, the male identified as Umoru Nelson (41) and woman as Ese-Dekimo Hope Enakume (37) were spotted at Kaminpura Tiraha on Sriganganagar Srikaranpur road in the border area and were asked to show their travel documents and permit required for visiting restricted border area but they were unable to do so,” the police told Times of India.

Meanwhile, when they were asked about their identity and travel documents, the duo was said to have resisted the police proceedings and refused to co-operate.

Deeksha Kamra, ASP, (CID, intelligence) said the security and intelligence agencies are on high alert following the instructions issued by DGP Intelligence Umesh Mishra in view of the Republic Day.

The detained foreigners were brought to the Foreigners Registration Office of CID, Zone Office for questioning.

The police claimed that during preliminary interrogation, the duo accepted that they were travelling without any valid documents.

During interrogation, Umoru Nelson said he came to India in 2011 on a medical visa for three months. He did not return after the expiry of his visa in 2015, a case of counterfeit currency was registered against him at Ajmer’s Nasirabad police station. For this, he was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine. He was released from Jaipur jail in 2021.

Hope Enakume Acedekimo came to India on March 1, 2016, on a three-month medical visa, but did not return to Nigeria even after the expiry of the visa period. Both foreign nationals have different documents regarding name, identity and nationality, the report said.

Umoru Nelson holds a Republic of Nigeria passport with the same name and a Republic of South Africa passport under the name Motshep Lagosi Thopan.

The lady, Hope Enakume holds a passport of the Republic of Nigeria with the same name and a voter ID card of the Republic of Nigeria under the name, Comey Ashanti.

According to SHO of Kesrisinghpur police station Gopal Singh Nathawat, “They both came for bail of a cheating case accused foreign national Abraham Bokeyoko, who was arrested on August 16 last year in Kesarisinghpur for online fraud of Rs 80 lakh. He is presently lodged in Shrikaranpur jail. Both of them are known to accuse Abraham and had come to Srikaranpur to meet him and help him get bail.”