A 34-year-old church member has been arrested by the Adamawa State Police for allegedly kidnapping two Catholic priests. The arrest was confirmed in a statement on Sunday by the spokesman for the state police command, Superintendent Suleiman Yahaya-Nguroje.
According to Yahaya-Nguroje, police operatives rescued the victims and recovered a locally made gun, a mobile phone, and a SIM card from the suspect. He revealed that the arrest followed a tip-off, leading officers to raid multiple criminal hideouts. The suspect was eventually found and apprehended in Gweda Mallam village, a border area between Numan and Demsa Local Government Areas.
The kidnapped priests, Abraham Samman from the Catholic Diocese of Yola and Mathew David Dusam from the Jalingo Diocese, were discovered tied up by the suspect.
Yahaya-Nguroje attributed the success of the operation to the proactive security strategies implemented by the Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, Morris Dankwbo. He noted that no ransom was paid for the priests’ release and that they are currently receiving medical care. The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.
In response, the Commissioner of Police expressed gratitude for the support from the state government, security agencies, and the public. He urged residents to stay vigilant and continue cooperating with law enforcement, especially in emergencies.
