The Plateau State Police Command has arrested three suspects, including a pastor, a Nigerian Air Force personnel, and a Nigerian Navy personnel, over an alleged plot to kidnap the wives of two Anglican bishops in Jos. The suspects were taken into custody on August 7, 2026, following a police operation based on credible intelligence, and they have confessed to the crime, according to the Commissioner of Police, CP Ayodeji Faniyan.
Arrests and Suspects Identified
The suspects were arrested at about 2:10 p.m. on August 7, 2026. They are identified as Rev. Hassan Yunisim Mijah, 42, of Tudun Wada, Jos North; Sgt. Ezra Sunday, a Nigerian Air Force personnel; and OS Usman Khalid, a Nigerian Navy personnel. Both military personnel are attached to Sector 1, Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP), Jos. The alleged plot targeted the wives of Bishop Ephraim Gongden and retired Bishop Benjamin Kwashi, both residents of the Rantya area of Jos South Local Government Area.
Police operatives led by the Commander of the Vigilance and Criminal Response Unit (VCRU) conducted the operation that led to the arrests. On interrogation, the suspects confessed to the conspiracy, as reported by security analyst Zagazola Makama.
CP Faniyan Confirms Arrest and Investigation
CP Ayodeji Faniyan confirmed the arrests on Friday, August 14, 2026, during his maiden press briefing at the Police Officers’ Mess in Jos. He stated that the command had commenced an investigation into the alleged botched abduction. “As regards the case of attempted kidnap of the wives of the current and former Bishop of Jos, Anglican Communion, we have arrested the suspects and they are currently in our custody,” he said. “We are investigating their involvement in the incident and at the end of the investigation, they will be charged to court if found culpable.”
The Commissioner emphasized that the vigilance of the police helped expose the plot before it could be executed, and he assured the public that the matter would not be swept under the carpet.
New CP Outlines Policing Agenda
Faniyan, who assumed duty as the 47th Commissioner of Police in Plateau State on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, said his administration would adopt proactive, intelligence-led, and technology-driven policing to tackle crime and protect lives and property across the state. He stressed that the command would sustain robust operations against terrorists, kidnappers, and other violent criminals, ensuring that no offender escapes justice. His mandate, he said, is “to make policing in Plateau State a positive model for others.”
The CP also declared zero tolerance for corruption and unprofessional conduct among police personnel. “There will be zero tolerance for corruption and unprofessionalism. We are waging total war against corruption and unprofessional behaviour,” he said. He announced plans to re-jig anti-vice squads and widely publicize public complaint channels to enable residents to report police infractions.
Community Policing and Warning Against Jungle Justice
Faniyan said community policing would receive priority, with traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organizations, vigilantes, and other stakeholders integrated into the command’s security architecture. He disclosed that the Plateau Command had received additional security assets from the Force Headquarters, including personnel, equipment, and logistics, but appealed for further support to effectively confront security challenges.
He also warned residents against jungle justice, describing it as a criminal act that could amount to culpable homicide if it results in a suspect’s death. “I wish to state unequivocally that jungle justice is a criminal act, and where it results in the death of a suspect, constitutes culpable homicide. Under my watch, the command will treat all cases of jungle justice with the seriousness it deserves, and perpetrators will be made to face the full weight of the law,” he said.
Faniyan appealed to the people of Plateau to provide timely and credible information, stressing that security thrives on partnership. “Security thrives on information. Give us timely and credible information, cooperate with our officers, and together we will make Plateau State the safest state in Nigeria,” he added. The suspects remain in police custody pending the conclusion of the investigation and potential prosecution.
