The police in Plateau have arrested one Pastor Albarka Bitrus for setting ablaze two cars and a bicycle belonging to other clerics.
The Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said Bitrus torched a Mercedes Benz, a Toyota car and a bicycle, parked at ECWA Bishara 3, Jenta Apata, Jos, owned by his colleagues whom he claimed hated him.
The PPRO said the suspect also confessed to organising his own kidnap and demanding ransom from members of his congregation.
“Through credible intelligence, the cleric was invited by the DPO, Nassarawa Gwong Police Station, CSP Musa Hassan, and investigation commenced immediately. In the course of investigation, it was established that the suspect had been conspiring with his gang to stage his kidnap and fraudulently collecting ransom.
“On interrogation, the suspect confessed to have committed the crime and mentioned the following persons as his accomplices: Baruk Mailale, Nathaniel Bitrus, and Aye (surname unknown),” the police spokesman stated.
He added that two of the accomplices, Mailale and Bitrus, were arrested, while effort was ongoing to arrest Aye.
