Plateau State Police Command has arrested a clergyman and two military personnel over an alleged plan to kidnap the wives of two prominent bishops in Jos.
Gatekeepers News reports that the suspects were reportedly arrested on August 7 following intelligence received by the police concerning an alleged criminal conspiracy and a foiled kidnapping attempt, according to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication.
One of those arrested was identified as 42-year-old Rev. Hassan Yunisim Mijah of Tudun Wada, Jos North. The other suspects were identified as Sgt. Ezra Sunday of the Nigerian Air Force and OS Usman Khalid of the Nigerian Navy. Both military personnel were attached to Sector 1 of Operation Enduring Peace in Jos.
The police reportedly alleged that Mijah conspired with the two security personnel to abduct the wives of Bishop Ephraim Gongden and retired Bishop Benjamin Kwashi.
The two bishops are said to reside in the Rantya area of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
According to the report, the police received the intelligence at about 2:10pm on August 7 and immediately launched an operation led by the commander of the Vigilance and Criminal Response Unit.
The operation resulted in the arrest of the three suspects, who reportedly confessed during interrogation, the publication said.
Operation Enduring Peace was subsequently informed of the arrest of the two personnel attached to the operation.
The police are continuing investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged plot and identify other individuals who may have been involved in the suspected criminal network.
TheCable said it contacted Alfred Alabo, spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, for confirmation. Although he answered the call, he reportedly ended it shortly afterwards and had not responded to a WhatsApp message seeking clarification as of the time of publication.
