The Kaduna State Police Command said on Wednesday that it had arrested a pastor who allegedly staged his own kidnap and demanded N5 million ransom from his family.
A statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo, said the Pastor, James Clement, and his accomplice, George Otokpa, were arrested by operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
According to the statement, the fake kidnap was stage-managed on January 27.
The 39-year-old pastor, who lives in the Nasarawa Tirkaniya area of Kaduna, allegedly conspired with Otokpa, who resides at 23, Aleri Water by Sarki Street, Kudandan, to commit the offense.
It said Clement “demanded the payment of N5 million as ransom from his own family through text messages using the second suspect as the negotiator”.
The statement said two members of the pastor’s family reported his kidnap and the police team was able to track him at his hideout and arrested him together with his accomplice.
Sabo said: “The suspects are currently undergoing interrogation and will be charged to court on completion of the investigation.”
He said the Commissioner of Police, Umar Muri, condemned such criminal mentality and cautioned members of the public against such a “heartless and barbaric act”.
