Pastor fakes own kidnap, demands 5,000,000 from family

From Femi Oyelola, kaduna

Kaduna state Police Command has arrested 39 years old Pastor James Clement of Nasarawa Tirkaniya Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna for faking his own kidnapping.
The Police public Relations Officer PPRO DSP Yakubu Abubakar Sabo disclosed this in a statement made available to the media in kaduna yesterday.
According to the statement, the pastor was arrested in company of his Crime partner George Otokpa of Aleri Water by Sarki Street Kudandan in Chikun Local Government Area on 27th January, 2020 at about 19:17hrs.
The statement added that the Pastor conspired with Otokpa to fake his kidnapping and demanded the payment of five Million Naira (5,000,000) as ransom from his own family through text messages using the 2nd suspect as the negotiator.
“The arrest followed a report made by one Miss Monica Sunday and Mr. Ejimba Ichukwu both family members of the fake kidnapped victim about the kidnap of their relation.
“The suspect Clement James, was tracked and arrested at his hide-out where he hid himself, falsely claimed being kidnapped and conspired with his friend George Otokpa ‘m’ 22yrs (the 2nd suspect) to engage his family in negotiation for ransom.
“The suspects are currently undergoing interrogation and will be charged to court on completion of investigation accordingly.
“The Commissioner of Police CP Umar M. Muri condemns such criminal mentality and cautions members of the Public against such heartless and barbaric act.
“The CP 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 mind,” the statement reads.