Nigerian Man Who Fell in Love During Songkran Won't Leave: Immigration Raids Condo After Nearly 3 Years in Hiding
A Nigerian man arrested in a Nonthaburi condominium has been illegally living in Thailand for nearly three years after overstaying his tourist visa following a romantic encounter during Songkran. Immigration officials charged him under the
At 3:30 p.m. on May 14, 2569, Police Lieutenant General Phaanumaas Bunnyalak, commander of the Immigration Bureau, along with Deputy Commander Police Colonel Prinyaa Linklaekaet of Region 3 and other immigration officials from Nonthaburi Province, ordered an operation to investigate and apprehend illegal foreign nationals following a tip received via the immigration hotline 1178. Officers discovered a 29-year-old Nigerian national illegally residing in a 17th-floor condominium on Bangkok-Nonthaburi Road in Bang Khen subdistrict, Muang district, Nonthaburi Province.
Document checks revealed the man had entered Thailand on April 13, 2566 on a tourist visa, which he continued to extend until his last extension on June 6, 2567. He then remained in the country illegally for approximately 1,069 days—nearly three years. According to the investigation, he arrived during the Songkran festival to celebrate and met a Thai woman, with whom he began a romantic relationship. He rented a condominium as his residence and attempted to convert his visa to a student visa through an educational institution in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, but was denied. He then reverted to extending his tourist visa instead. The man has not worked, relying on his Thai girlfriend for support.
Immigration officials have charged him with entering and remaining in the Kingdom without proper authorization under the Immigration Act B.E. 2522, Section 81. He has been handed over to Muang Nonthaburi Police Station for further legal proceedings.
