Nigeria’s Plateau State Police Command has arrested a pastor who conspired with his gang to kidnap him at least twice and collected ransom from his sympathetic church members for his release.
Pastor Albarka Sukuya’s arrest follows suspicion and investigation triggered by the recurrence of his kidnappings.
According to him, the man of God was arrested by his outfit in November 2022, and he admitted to being behind his own kidnappings to make money off his suffering congregants.
“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 sympathizing members of his congregation.
“Spin-off of his spurious kidnaps of Nov. 14 and Nov. 15, 2022, where N400,000 and N200,000, respectively, were paid by his sympathizers as a 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 an 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,” DSP Alabo said in the statement, as cited by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Pastor Sukuya, after his arrest, revealed the identity of three members of his self-kidnapping gang, two of whom he said were arrested while the remaining one is on the run.
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The man of God and his accomplices are supposed to be put before a court to answer for their alleged crimes.