Police confirm arrest of Plateau Catholic priests kidnapper in Ogun

The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a suspected kidnapper, Christopher Yaro, in connection with the abduction of two Catholic priests in Plateau State.

The Command Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, confirmed this in a telephone interview with the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday.

The priests were abducted last Thursday in Pankshin, Plateau State.

The PPRO informed that the suspect was arrested by operatives of the Command in Ago-Iwoye in the Ijebu North Area of the State.

The victims, Father Kenneth Kanwa and Father Jude Nwachukwu, were kidnapped from St. Vincent de Paul Fier Parish in the Diocese of Pankshin.

The abductors of the priests were reported to have demanded a ransom of N25m from relatives and church members for their release.

However, the chairman of the Plateau State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Polycarp Lubo, confirmed the release of the priests after a week of their abduction.

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The PPRO said the suspect claimed that he fled Pankshin over fear that members of the community might attack him after discovering his involvement in the abduction of the two priests.

She said, “At about 4:25 pm on Monday, we received intelligence that a kidnapping suspect, Christopher Yaro, had escaped to Ijebu-Ode after being 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.

“The suspects were armed with four K.2 rifles when they carried out the crime. Yaro has been arrested. Further information will be made available to the public as soon as the investigation is completed.”