Kaduna police arrest pastor who kidnapped himself and asked his family for N5m ransom

MEN of the Kaduna State Police Command have arrested a Christian clergyman identified as Pastor James Clement for conspiring to kidnap himself and demand a ransom fee of N5m ($10,557 ) from his family claiming he was abducted.

According to the police, Pastor Clement, 39 and his friend George Otokpa, faked his abduction earlier this week. Police began investigating his abduction after a report was made by two of his family members Monica Sunday and Ejimba Ichukwu but they eventually tracked down the clergyman to where he was hiding.

Yakubu Sabo, a spokesman for the Kaduna State Police Command, said that duo were nabbed by operatives of the police anti-kidnapping unit on Monday. He added that the suspects are currently undergoing interrogation and will be charged to court on completion of investigations accordingly.

Mr Sabo said: “On 27th January, 2020 at about 19.17hrs, one Pastor James Clement of Nasarawa Tirkaniya Kaduna and George Otokpa of No. 23 Aleri Water by Sarki Street Kudandan in Chikun Local Government Area were arrested by the operatives of the command’s anti-kidnapping unit. Clement James, was tracked and arrested at his hideout where he hid himself, falsely claimed being kidnapped and conspired with his friend George Otokpa, 22, to engage his family in negotiations for ransom.

“The commissioner of police Umar Muri condemns such criminal mentality and cautions members of the public against such heartless and barbaric acts. The commissioner assures the good people of Kaduna State that, the command will use the evidence against the suspects in the court of law to serve as deterrence to other people with similar criminal minds.”