Foreign student arrested in north Cyprus for over staying his permit

A Nigerian man has been arrested in Gönyeli after police discovered he had been residing in the country without legal status for nearly three years.

The suspect, identified as CKA, was brought before the Lefkoşa District Court on Friday on charges of illegal residency.

According to the police, the individual was identified and arrested on 21 August 2025, during a routine patrol on Atatürk Avenue in Gönyeli when, officers from the Crime Prevention Unit identified him as residing illegally. 

Checks revealed that he had overstayed since 29 November 2022, amounting to 996 days without legal residency.

He was arrested on the spot, and an investigation was launched. Authorities confirmed that the Ministry of Interior’s Civil Immigration Department will now review his case, with deportation procedures expected to follow.

The police requested a three-day detention period to complete inquiries, which the court approved.