Police arrest fleeing suspected kidnapper of Plateau Catholic priests in Ogun

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper, Christopher Yaro, who allegedly partook in the abduction of two Reverend Fathers for ransom in Pankshin, Plateau State.

The kidnappers abducted the priests on February 1, 2024.

Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Omolola Odutola confirmed the arrest on Tuesday.

The command noted that the suspect was nabbed on Monday in the Ago-Iwoye area of the state.

It will be recalled that two Catholic priests, Father Kenneth Kanwa and Father Jude Nwachukwu, were reportedly abducted from St. Vincent de Paul Fier Parish in the Diocese of Pankshin in Plateau State.

The alleged abductors, who were later discovered to be members of the same parish, allegedly insisted on a N25 million ransom from family and church members to secure the priests’ freedom.

After a week of the abduction, the chairman of the Plateau State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Polycarp Lubo, though could not confirm whether a ransom was paid, confirmed the release of the priests.

Odutola said one of the suspects, member of the church, Yaro, claimed that he fled Pankshin over fear that members of the community might attack him after they discovered that he was involved in the abduction of the two priests.

She said, “At about 4:25pm on Monday, we received intelligence that a kidnapping suspect, Christopher Yaro, had escaped to Ijebu-Ode after he was alleged to have conspired with another member of the church and five other men to kidnap the two Rev. Fathers in the Pankshin area of Plateau State.”