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A shepherd based on Jos, Albarka Bitrus Sukunya has been arrested by the Plateau State Police Command for faking his own kidnapping.
Albarka Sukunya was reportedly arrested along with his accomplices following reports that church members paid a ransom amount of N600,000 for his release.
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The command spokesman, Alabo Alfred, in a statement on Wednesday said;
“The Plateau State Police Command has again uncovered the nefarious act of a pastor Albarka Bitrus Sukuya ‘m’ from Jenta Apata, Jos, who on several occasions arranged for her to be kidnapped with his henchmen and was ransomed by sympathetic members of her congregation.
“Sequel to his spurious kidnappings on 11/14/2022 and 11/30/2022, where the sum of four hundred thousand naira (400,000 N) and two hundred thousand naira (200,000 N), respectively, was paid by his supporters as ransom for his release, the incidents aroused suspicion.
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“Through credible intelligence, the cleric was invited by the DPO Nassarawa Gwong Police Station, CSP Musa Hassan, and the investigation began immediately.
“In the course of the investigation, it was established that the suspect has been conspiring with his gang to arrange his kidnapping and fraudulently collect ransom.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to committing the crime and named the following persons as his accomplices: (1) Baruk Mailale, (2) Nathaniel Bitrus, both males from Yelwan Zangam village of Jos-north, and (3) Aye (last name still to be known) ‘male from Jalingo, Taraba State.
“The suspect further revealed that on 04/01/2023, he set fire to two motor vehicles (a Mercedes Benz and a Toyota) and a bicycle parked at the ECWA Bishara 3 Jenta Apata premises belonging to his colleagues who, according to him, one of them hate it. , referring to his main pastor.
“However, police officers from Nassarawa Gwong Division, Jos-north LGA arrested two (2) of the suspects, namely Baruk Mailale and Nathaniel Bitrus, while efforts to arrest Aye, the third suspect, were intensifying.” .
