The Police in Adamawa State have arrested a 34 year-old church member, Tahamado Jonathan Demian, for allegedly kidnapping Reverend Fathers Abraham Samman and Matthew Dusami of Catholic Dioceses of Yola and Jalingo.
The two clerics were reportedly abducted at a convent in Gweda Mallam in the Numan Local Government Area of the state.
The two Catholic Church priests who were kidnapped penultimate week were on Saturday evening found tied in a house belonging to one of the Church’s altar servants, it was learnt.
An altar servant provides sundry services to a Roman Catholic priest while performing mass.
It was learnt that the altar servant, identified as Taledo Demiel had allegedly masterminded the abduction of the two priests and demanded N10million as ransom.
Demiel had gone to a location to pick up the N10million ransom, but abandoned it and escaped after suspecting he could be caught.
“Upon suspecting that there were security operatives around, he abandoned the ransom and ran away leaving his motorcycle behind as evidence.
“Security operatives took the motorcycle and it was identified as the altar servant’s own. Thereafter his house was forced open and the two priests were found locked up on a room and rescued,” one the operatives said in confidence.
The Command’s spokesperson, SP Suleiman Nguroje, has confirmed the arrest of the suspect in a statement issued on Sunday in Yola.
Nguroje, however, said the victims had been rescued unhurt, and a locally fabricated gun was recovered from the suspect.
“The command carried out a coordinated rescue operation at a particular criminal hideout situated at a remote side of Gweda Malam area, connecting Numan and Demsa LGAs.
“Rescue operations had commenced from Feb. 21, 2025, in various criminal hideouts within the state.
“It yielded positive results as one Tahamado Jonathan Demian, 34 years old, and a member of the same Church with the victims, was arrested for their kidnapping.
“The Command’s planned operation had successfully rescued the two Reverend Fathers unhurt, and no dime was paid as ransom,” he said.
Nguroje said the victims are now receiving medical attention, adding that the suspect had been detained for discreet investigation.
