Pastor kidnaps self, demands ransom from church members

A pastor from Plateau State named Albarka Sukuya has been detained by police on suspicion of kidnapping himself and demanding ransom from churchgoers.

The statement from Alfred Alabo, Plateau's Police Public Relations Officer, who corroborated this, stated that the culprit was taken into custody in November.

He said that he staged his kidnapping multiple times to trick unwary people.

“The Police has 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.”

“Sequel to his spurious kidnaps of Nov. 14 and Nov. 15, 2022, where N400,000 and N200,000, respectively, were paid by his sympathisers as ransom for his release, the incidents triggered suspicion.

“Through credible intelligence, the clergyman was invited by the DPO Nasarawa Gwong Police Station, CSP Musa Hassan and investigation commenced immediately.

“In the course of investigation, it was established that the suspect has been conspiring with his gang to stage his kidnap and fraudulently collect ransom.

“The suspect further disclosed that on Jan. 1, he set ablaze the vehicles and a bicycle parked at ECWA Bishara 3, Jenta Apata premises belonging to his colleagues. He has confessed to committing the crime.”

Alabo claimed that the suspect had disclosed the names of three further gang members; he added that two of them had been apprehended while the third was still at large.

Source