“Cleric, Two Officers Arrested Over Kidnap Plot.”
Cleric, Two Soldiers Arrested Over Bishops’ Wives Kidnap Plot
By Divine Macaulay ·
The suspects were arrested on August 7 following intelligence on an alleged kidnapping conspiracy, according to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication.
The Plateau State Police Command has arrested a cleric and two military personnel over an alleged plot to kidnap the wives of two prominent bishops in Jos.
The suspects were arrested on August 7 following intelligence on an alleged kidnapping conspiracy, according to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication.
One of the suspects was identified as 42-year-old Rev. Hassan Yunisim Mijah of Tudun Wada, Jos North.
Mijah was allegedly working with Sgt. Ezra Sunday, a Nigerian Air Force personnel, and OS Usman Khalid, a Nigerian Navy personnel, both attached to Sector 1 of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), Jos.
The trio allegedly plotted to abduct the wives of Bishop Ephraim Gongden and retired Bishop Benjamin Kwashi, who are reportedly residents of Rantya, Jos South Local Government Area.
Following the intelligence, police operatives led by the commander of the Vigilance and Criminal Response Unit (VCRU) launched an operation that resulted in the arrest of the suspects.
The suspects reportedly confessed during interrogation, while OPEP was formally notified of the arrest of its two personnel.
The police are continuing investigations to determine the full circumstances surrounding the alleged plot and identify other members of the suspected criminal network.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from Alfred Alabo, spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, were unsuccessful.
Alabo answered a telephone call but ended it shortly afterwards. A WhatsApp message sent to him seeking confirmation had also not received a response as of press time.