In a shocking turn of events, a 34-year-old Catholic Church altar server, Taledo Damiel, has been arrested for allegedly orchestrating the abduction of two priests in Adamawa State, demanding a ₦10 million ransom for their release.
The Nigerian Police, in a statement on Sunday, confirmed Damiel’s arrest in connection with the kidnapping of Rev. Fathers Matthew David Dusami and Abraham Samman of the Adamawa and Taraba dioceses, respectively. The priests were abducted two weeks ago from a convent in Gwaida Mallam, a community in Numan Local Government Area.
Pioneer News had earlier reported on March 8 that Damiel narrowly escaped capture at the location where he was meant to collect the ransom money. However, in his haste to evade arrest, he left behind crucial evidence, including a motorcycle, which became a vital lead for investigators.
Following intensive tracking, security operatives traced Damiel to his inherited apartment, where the kidnapped priests were miraculously found alive and rescued unharmed. Realizing the net was closing in, Damiel abandoned the ransom, fled the scene, but was later tracked and apprehended by police operatives.
Confirming the arrest, the spokesperson for the Adamawa State Police Command, SP Suleiman Nguroje, stated that Damiel had been taken into custody while the rescued priests have been reunited with their Catholic family.
Nguroje further revealed that a locally fabricated assault rifle was recovered at the crime scene, highlighting the severity of the crime.
He stated:
“In a bid to ensure the protection of lives and property and maintain a secure environment in the state, the command carried out a coordinated rescue operation at a particular criminal hideout in Gwaida Mallam, a remote village connecting parts of Numan and Demsa LGAs.”
“The operations, which commenced on February 21, 2025, across various criminal hideouts, yielded positive results. One Tahamado Jonathan Demian, 34, a fellow church member of the victims, was arrested for masterminding the abduction of his two Reverend Fathers, Abraham Samman and Matthew David Dusami, of the Catholic Dioceses of Yola and Jalingo.”
Nguroje emphasized that the successful rescue operation ensured that no ransom was paid, and the victims are currently receiving medical attention.
Meanwhile, the Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, Dankombo Morris, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to eradicating violent crimes in the state.
With this shocking betrayal within the Catholic Church, authorities are now intensifying investigations to determine if Damiel had accomplices or was part of a larger criminal syndicate targeting religious leaders.
PIONEER NEWS 