Christopher Yaro, a suspected kidnapper, has been detained by the Ogun State Police Command. Yaro is believed to have taken part in the February 1, 2024, kidnapping of two Rev Fathers in Pankshin, Plateau State, for ransom.
The culprit was apprehended on Monday by police agents in the Ago-Iwoye region of the state, according to command spokeswoman Omolola Odutola, who made this public on Tuesday.
It has been claimed that two priests from the Catholic Diocese of Pankshin in Plateau State, Father Jude Nwachukwu and Father Kenneth Kanwa, were kidnapped from St. Vincent de Paul Fier Parish.
The priests’ liberation was purportedly sought by the supposed kidnappers, who were later found to be parishioners, in exchange for a N25 million ransom from family and other churchgoers.
A week after the priests were taken hostage, Polycarp Lubo, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria’s Plateau State chapter, reportedly verified the priests’ release. Nevertheless, he was unable to verify if a ransom had been paid.
In an exclusive interview with reporters on Tuesday, Odutola discussed the arrest and revealed that Yaro, one of the suspects and a church member, claimed he left Pankshin because he was afraid the locals would attack him if they found out he was responsible for the two priests’ kidnappings.
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.
“The suspects were 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.”
