Plateau State Police command has arrested a pastor for allegedly kidnapping himself and collecting ransom from members of his congregation.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Alfred Alabo, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Jos.
He said the suspect, Pastor Albarka Sukuya of Jenta Apata, Jos, was arrested by the police in November 2022 after incidents of staging his kidnap to dupe unsuspecting persons.
Alabo added that prior to the pastor’s arrest, he had staged two kidnap incidents during which he collected N400,000 and N200,000 as ransom from his church members.
”The police have uncovered the nefarious act of one Pastor Albarka Sukuya of Jenta Apata, Jos, who on several occasions staged his kidnap with his cohorts and received ransom from sympathising members of his congregation,” said the police statement.
“Sequel to his spurious kidnaps of November 14 and November 15, 2022, where N400,000 and N200,000, respectively, were paid by his sympathisers as a ransom for his release, the incidents triggered suspicion,” noting that through “credible intelligence, the clergyman was invited by the DPO Nasarawa Gwong Police Station, CSP Musa Hassan and investigation commenced immediately.”
The police further stated that in their investigation, “it was established that the suspect has been conspiring with his gang to stage his kidnap and fraudulently collect (a) ransom. He has confessed to committing the crime.”
Mr Alabo said the suspect had revealed the identity of three other gang members, adding that two were arrested while one is at large.
“The suspect further disclosed that on January 1, he set ablaze the vehicles and a bicycle parked at ECWA Bishara 3, Jenta Apata premises belonging to his colleagues,” stated the police.
