Abuse of ransom payments calls for collaboration with security agents

There is apparently no base line to the moral turpitude into which contemporary Nigerian society has fallen. A supposed pastor staged his own kidnap twice last year to extort N.6million ransom from his church members, according to the police in Plateau State presently holding the suspect in custody. This comes against the backdrop of other shocking incidents, like a son in Kwara State who masterminded his father’s kidnap and collected N2.5million ransom before his release.

The Plateau State Police Command said Albarka Sukuya of Jenta Apata, in Jos, had been apprehended for criminal conspiracy, self-kidnapping and mischief. According to the command, Sukuya worked alongside other members of his gang to fake his own kidnap, upon which concerned members of his church contributed money to pay his ransom. Before his arrest, the suspect also allegedly orchestrated a fire incident at the premises of ECWA Bishara 3 Church, Jenta Apata, where cars belonging to his fellow pastors were set ablaze. He reportedly claimed that one of them, a senior pastor, hates him.

In a statement last week, the command’s spokesman, Alfred Alabo, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the command “uncovered nefarious acts of one Pastor Albarka Bitrus Sukuya of Jenta Apata, Jos, who on several occasions staged his kidnap with his cohorts and received ransom from sympathising members of his congregation.” Alabo stated: “Sequel to his spurious kidnaps on 14/11/2022 and 30/11/2022 where N400, 000and N200, 000were respectively paid by his sympathisers as ransom for his release, the incidents triggered suspicion.