Delhi Police detained a Nigerian national living illegally in the capital, later found to be a proclaimed offender under the Foreigners Act.
Delhi Police officials detain a Nigerian national during a verification drive against illegal foreign residents in west Delhi (Photo: File)
NEW DELHI: The Outer District Police have intensified their ongoing campaign against foreign nationals violating visa and immigration regulations, with alert patrolling resulting in the detention of a Nigerian citizen who was not only residing illegally in the national capital but had also been declared a proclaimed offender by a Delhi court.
Amid rising concerns over unauthorised immigration, the police have launched a district-wide crackdown, deploying multiple dedicated teams to carry out extensive surveys, intelligence collection and verification drives in several sensitive and vulnerable areas. According to officials, the primary aim of the exercise is to identify foreign nationals lacking valid travel and stay documents, detain them, and initiate appropriate legal action, thereby reinforcing internal security and ensuring strict enforcement of immigration laws.
On December 21, 2025, Police Station Nihal Vihar, conducted a routine survey focused on identifying illegally staying foreign nationals within their jurisdiction. During the course of the operation, they observed a foreign national moving suspiciously in the Chander Vihar locality.
Upon being intercepted and questioned, the individual was unable to produce a valid passport, visa or any other document authorising his stay in India. Further questioning revealed his identity as Johnson Chinedu, a Nigerian national, who also admitted that his visa had already expired.
He was promptly taken into custody and brought to Police Station Nihal Vihar, following due legal procedures.
Further verification carried out through inter-agency coordination and ICJs established that Johnson Chinedu had earlier been declared a Proclaimed Offender in an FIR registered at Police Station Dabri under the provisions of the Foreigners Act. The proclamation had been ordered by the court of Sh. Harshal Negi, Metropolitan Magistrate-02, Dwarka Courts, Delhi, on November 1, 2023.
After confirmation of his proclaimed offender status, the accused was formally arrested on December 21, 2025, under Section 35(1)(d) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Police officials stated that the timely action highlights the Outer District Police’s firm commitment to enforcing immigration laws and safeguarding public security. The ongoing drive includes systematic scanning and verification of individuals across the district to curb illegal stays and prevent activities associated with unauthorised immigration.
The police added that further efforts are in progress to trace and initiate action against other foreign nationals found living in Delhi without valid documentation.
