By Damola Emmanuel
The dragnet of the Nigeria Police Force, Plateau State Command has caught a big fish
The Command announced on Wednesday that it had caught a Jos-based pastor, Albarka Bitrus, of his congregation!
Spokesman for the Command, Mr. Alabo Alfred disclosed this in a press statement in Jos, the Plateau State capital on Wednesday, saying that the Pastor was arrested with his collaborators following intelligence reports the Command received after church members paid N600,000 ransom to secure the cleric’s ‘release’.
Here is the full text of the statement by the police spokesman:
“The Plateau State Police Command has again uncovered the nefarious act of one pastor Albarka Bitrus Sukuya ‘m’ of Jenta Apata, who on several occasions staged his kidnap with his cohorts and received ransom from sympathizing members of his congregation.
“Sequel to his spurious kidnaps of 14/11/2022 and 30/11/2022 where the sum of Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N400,000) and Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000) were respectively paid by his sympathizers as ransom for his release, the incidents triggered suspicion.
“Through credible intelligence, the clergyman was invited by the DPO Nassarawa Gwong Police Station, CSP Musa Hassan, and investigation commenced immediately. In the course of investigation, it was established that the suspect has 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 following persons as his accomplices: (1) Baruk Mailale, (2) Nathaniel Bitrus both males of Yelwan Zangam village of Jos-north and (3) Aye (surname yet to be known) ‘male of Jalingo, Taraba State.”
“The suspect further disclosed that on 04/01/2023, he set ablaze two motor vehicles (a Mercedes Benz and a Toyota) and a bicycle parked at ECWA Bishara 3 Jenta Apata premises belonging to his colleagues who he alleged one of them hates him, referring to his senior pastor.