The Plateau State Police Command has uncovered the nefarious act of one Pastor Albarka Bitrus Sukuya of Jenta Apata, Jos, the State capital, who on several occasions staged his own kidnap with his cohorts and receive ransom from members of his congregation.
According to a statement issued in Jos by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Alfred Alabo, he said sequel to Sukuya’s spurious kidnaps on 14/11/2022 and 30/11/2022, where the sums of N400,000 and N200,000 were respectively paid by his sympathisers as ransoms for his release, the incidents triggered suspicion.
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The Police spokesperson further said through credible intelligence, the clergyman was invited by the DPO of Nassarawa Gwong Police Division, CSP Musa Hassan, and investigation commenced immediately.
He revealed that in the course of the investigation, it was established that the suspect had been conspiring with his gang to stage his kidnap and fraudulently collect ransom.
“On interrogation, the suspect confessed to have committed the crime and mentioned the names of Baruk Mailale, Nathaniel Bitrus both males of Yelwan Zangam village of Jos-North and Aye from Jalingo, Taraba State as accomplices,” the PPRO stated.
The statement also added that the suspect further disclosed that he set ablaze two motor vehicles (a Mercedes Benz and a Toyota) including a bicycle parked at ECWA Bishara 3 Jenta Apata premises in Jos, belonging to his colleagues, whom he alleged one of them (his senior Pastor) hated him.
Alabo further said Police operatives of Nassarawa Gwong Division, Jos-North LGA arrested two of the accomplices namely, Baruk Mailale and Nathaniel Bitrus, while effort was being intensified to arrest Aye, the third suspect, urging members of the public to be watchful and report any suspicious happenings around them to the Police.