Altar servant arrested for masterminding abduction of two Catholic priests in Adamawa

A 34-year-old altar servant, Tahamado Demian, has been arrested by the Adamawa State Police Command for allegedly masterminding the abduction of two Catholic priests, Reverend Fathers Abraham Samman of the Jalingo Diocese and Matthew Dusami of the Yola Diocese

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Suleiman Nguroje, who confirmed the arrest of Demian is a post on X on Saturday night, said he was arrested in his hideout in Gwaida Malam village, a remote area between Numan and Demsa local government areas, after the two kidnapped priests were successfully rescued from their abductors.

The police spokesman who disclosed that the victims were rescued unharmed without any ransom paid and were receiving medical care, also stated that the police recovered a locally-fabricated assault rifle, a handset, and multiple SIM cards during the operation.

“In a bid to ensure protection of lives and property, a safe and secured environment in the state, the command carried out a coordinated rescue operation at a particular criminal hideout situated at a remote side of Gwaida Malam village connecting part of Numan and Demsa LGAs,”
Nguroje said.

“These rescue operations, commenced from 21st February, 2025, in various criminal hideouts within the state and it yielded positive results as one Tahamado Jonathan Demian, 34-years-old, a member of the same church with the victims was arrested for kidnapping of his two Reverend fathers (Abraham Samman and Matthew David Dusami) of Catholic Dioceses of Yola and Jalingo respectively.

“The command’s planned operation had successfully rescued the two Reverend fathers unhurt and no dime is paid as ransom. The victims are now receiving medical attention.

“The suspect was apprehended and now taken into custody for discreet investigation. Investigation so far has led to the recovery of one locally fabricated Assault rifle, two handsets and sim cards.

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“The Commissioner of Police, Dankombo Morris, expressed gratitude for the support the command is receiving from the government, sister security agencies and the public.

“He therefore encouraged them to sustain the cooperation and collaboration for timely response to emergency situations. The police boss added that together, we will ensure peace and security across the state and beyond through deligent prosecution of the suspect.”

The two Catholic Church priests were reportedly kidnapped on February 22, by gunmen who demanded a ransom of N10 million from the church.

It was gathered that they were rescued earlier on Saturday in a house belonging to Demian after he had gone to a location to pick up the N10million ransom, but abandoned it and escaped after suspecting he could be caught.

A security operative who spoke to journalists on the condition of anonymity said:

“Upon suspecting that there were security operatives around, he abandoned the ransom and ran away leaving his motorcycle behind as evidence.

“Security operatives took the motorcycle and it was identified as the altar servant’s own. Thereafter his house was forced open and the two priests were found locked up on a room and rescued.”

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