Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - An alleged kidnapper of the two Claretian fathers kidnapped on the night of February 1 in Plateau State, in central Nigeria, and then released on February 8, has been arrested (see Fides, 8/2/2024).
The Ogun State Police Command has announced that it has arrested Christopher Yaro, suspected of being part of the gang that kidnapped the two religious, Father Ken Kanwa C.M.F., Parish Priest of St. Vincent De Paul Fier Church, Diocese of Pankshin of Plateau State, and his assistant Father Jude Nwachukwu C.M.F.
The police investigations focused on people who were members of the same parish where the two priests worked. A police spokeswoman said the detainee had claimed that he fled Pankshin for fear that members of the community might attack him after discovering that he was involved in the kidnapping of the two priests. The spokesperson said: "On the afternoon of February 12, we received information that a suspected kidnapper, Christopher Yaro, had fled to Ijebu-Ode after being accused of conspiring with another church member and five other men to kidnap the two reverend fathers in the Pankshin area of Plateau State".
It should be noted that the arrest took place in Ogun State, where the suspect had sought refuge, and not in Pleateau State, where the kidnapping took place. Nigeria, a federal State, has a coordination problem between local and federal police forces. A factor that makes it easier for perpetrators to escape the networks of justice. In this case the coordination worked. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 14/2/2024)