Pune: Nigerian Woman Deported for Illegal Stay in Pimpri-Chinchwad
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pimpri Chinchwad, 8th September 2026: A Nigerian woman who allegedly continued to reside in India after her passport and visa had expired was deported to her home country on Tuesday, Pimpri-Chinchwad police said.
The woman, identified as Gift Okoh, was found residing within the jurisdiction of the Hinjawadi police station. Acting on information received about her illegal stay, officials from the Foreigners Registration Office of Special Branch II visited her residence and conducted an inquiry.
Police said Okoh could not produce a valid passport, visa or any other supporting documents. Her identity was subsequently verified through biometric checks conducted on the online DPM system, which confirmed that she was a Nigerian citizen.
“Gift Okoh had entered India on a medical visa on September 23, 2014, and had subsequently stayed in Jaipur and Palghar. Her passport and visa had expired in June 2024, but she continued to reside within the Pimpri-Chinchwad police commissionerate’s jurisdiction,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Dheeraj Patil said.
As she did not possess valid travel documents, the police coordinated with the Nigerian High Commission in New Delhi to obtain an Emergency Travel Document. An exit permit was also secured from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office in Mumbai.
“After completing all the necessary legal and immigration formalities, she was deported to Nigeria from Mumbai International Airport on September 8,” DCP Patil added.
The action was undertaken under the supervision of Police Commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey, Joint Commissioner of Police Shashikant Mahavarkar, Additional Commissioner of Police Sarang Awad and other senior officers. Officials from Special Branch II and the Foreigners Registration Office executed the deportation process.
