HOW PLATEAU PASTOR ALLEGEDLY MASTERMINDED PLOT TO KIDNAP BISHOPS’ WIVES IN JOS

By Zagazola Makama

What began as an alleged plan to abduct the wives of two Anglican bishops in Jos was reportedly uncovered by one of the very men recruited to execute the crime.

The case has sparked serious debate about the vulnerability of trusted individuals, the growing threat of insider involvement, and how criminal networks can exploit people with access to communities, institutions and security structures.

The alleged plot reportedly revolved around
Rev. Hassan Yunisim Mijah, 42, of Tudun Wada, Jos North, a clergyman described as a Rev. Canon under the Anglican Diocese of Jos.

Mijah was arrested alongside Sgt. Ezra Sunday, a Nigerian Air Force personnel, and OS Usman Khalid, a Nigerian Navy personnel. Both security personnel were reportedly attached to Sector 1, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), in Jos.

The Plateau State Police Command said the arrests followed credible intelligence concerning an alleged criminal conspiracy and a plot to kidnap the wives of Bishop Ephraim Gongden, the current Anglican Bishop of Jos, and retired Bishop Benjamin Kwashi. The intended victims were identified as Mrs Esther G. Gongden and Mrs Gloria Kwashi.

The whistleblower

According to accounts surrounding the investigation, the alleged conspiracy began to unravel when a naval officer approached by the suspected mastermind reportedly refused to participate.

The officer, described as a devout Muslim, allegedly told Bishop Ephraim Gongden about the plot after being approached to take part in the planned abduction. The officer reportedly visited the bishop at his residence in the Rantya area of Jos South Local Government Area and disclosed that he had been contacted by the syndicate.

Rather than participate in the alleged crime, he reportedly cited his religious convictions and moral upbringing as reasons for rejecting the assignment. The information immediately changed the direction of the case.

Instead of confronting the alleged mastermind directly, police operatives attached to the Plateau State Police Command’s Vigilance and Criminal Response Unit (VCRU) reportedly instructed the naval officer to continue playing along with the suspects while detectives monitored the operation. It was a classic attempt to allow the alleged conspiracy to reveal itself from within.

The safehouse trap

While the police were monitoring developments, Rev. Mijah allegedly contacted the naval officer and demanded an update on the arrangements.
According to information surrounding the investigation, one of the critical requirements was a safe location where the intended victims could allegedly be held after their abduction.

Working under police direction, the naval officer reportedly supplied an address that had been placed under police control on the outskirts of Jos. The alleged mastermind apparently believed the safehouse arrangement was genuine.

On August 7, 2026, at about 2:10 p.m., Mijah reportedly travelled to the designated location alongside Sgt. Ezra Sunday and OS Usman Khalid. The trio allegedly arrived to collect the keys to the supposed safehouse. Instead of receiving access to a hideout, they reportedly walked into a police operation.

Operatives of the VCRU who had been positioned at the location moved in and arrested the suspects. The Plateau State Police Command subsequently confirmed the arrest of the three men. The command said the suspects were interrogated and “confessed to the crime.”

The arrests also prompted the police to formally notify Operation Enduring Peace about the involvement of the two military personnel attached to the operation.

The alleged ransom plan

Investigators subsequently uncovered further details about the alleged plot. According to the information provided by the police, Mijah allegedly instructed his co-conspirators to demand a ransom of ₦100 million from the diocese following the abduction.

The alleged instruction reportedly came with a minimum acceptable amount of ₦50 million, suggesting that the kidnapping was allegedly planned as a financially motivated operation rather than an impulsive crime.

If established through the ongoing investigation and subsequent legal proceedings, the alleged ransom structure would indicate that the suspects had moved beyond merely discussing an abduction and had allegedly begun planning the financial demands that would follow.

An earlier attempt to recruit a militia gang

Investigators also reportedly uncovered another disturbing dimension to the alleged plan. According to the information provided, Mijah had initially attempted to contract Fulani Fulani Bandits to carry out the abduction.

That arrangement allegedly collapsed after the militia leader insisted that his men would sexually assault the two women during captivity.
Mijah reportedly rejected the condition.

The alleged failure of that arrangement subsequently led him to seek another group capable of carrying out the operation, eventually turning to military personnel.

The allegation, if established, presents a particularly disturbing picture of how criminal conspiracies can move between different networks in search of people with the required access and capability.

The alleged involvement of two personnel attached to a military security operation adds another layer of concern to the case. Security personnel routinely possess knowledge of movement patterns, locations, routines and vulnerabilities that ordinary criminals may struggle to obtain.

This is why insider threats are considered particularly dangerous in asymmetric security environments. An outsider may need to break through several layers of security. An insider may already know where the door is.

The case therefore goes beyond the alleged targeting of two bishops’ wives. It pointed out to how criminal elements can exploit relationships, access and institutional familiarity to facilitate crimes.

A familiar face in security circles

There is also an element of irony surrounding the allegations against Mijah.

Zagazola Media further learnt that the clergyman was reportedly regarded as being close to security personnel and had, on several occasions, provided information concerning suspected attackers planning to attack communities. That history reportedly made his alleged involvement in a kidnapping conspiracy particularly difficult to reconcile.

A person who is trusted enough to provide intelligence about attackers can potentially acquire knowledge about how security forces operate, what information they consider important and how their response mechanisms function.

This is precisely why intelligence services place emphasis on corroborating information, assessing sources and continuously reviewing the credibility of human intelligence.

The person providing information about the enemy must not automatically be assumed to be incapable of becoming part of the threat.

The alleged dispute with the church

Investigation has also reportedly uncovered a background of administrative friction between Mijah and the leadership of the Anglican Diocese of Jos. According to the information provided, Mijah had previously been dismissed by retired Bishop Benjamin Kwashi. He was later reinstated by the current Bishop of Jos, Rt. Rev. Ephraim Gongden.

Following his reinstatement, Mijah reportedly demanded payment of outstanding allowances or back-pay from the diocese. The diocese allegedly declined to settle the claimed arrears.

Another aspect emerging from the background information is Mijah’s reported political ambition.

The clergyman, described as an indigene of Adamawa State, is reportedly contesting for the House of Representatives seat representing Numan/Lamurde/Demsa Federal Constituency under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

That political background has added another layer of public interest to the case, although his political activities, by themselves, do not establish any connection to the alleged kidnapping plot. The central issue remains the criminal allegation currently being investigated by the police.

Why the case matters

The alleged conspiracy illustrates one of the most difficult challenges confronting security agencies in an environment where criminal networks increasingly depend on access, information and personal relationships. Kidnapping operations do not always begin in the bush.

They can begin in conversations, through trusted contacts, inside communities, within institutions or among people who appear to have legitimate reasons for being close to potential victims. That is what makes insider threats particularly dangerous. In asymmetric warfare, the enemy does not always announce himself. He may not wear a uniform. He may not carry a weapon openly. He may even present himself as someone helping security agencies identify the threat.

That is why intelligence must be independently verified, regardless of whether it comes from a civilian, a community leader, a religious figure or even someone with access to security personnel.

Investigation continues

The Plateau State Police Command has confirmed that the suspects remain in custody while investigation continues. Operation Enduring Peace has also reportedly been formally informed of the arrest of the two military personnel.

Investigators are expected to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged conspiracy, determine whether additional persons were involved and examine the financial, logistical and communication links connecting the suspects.

For now, the case remains an allegation under investigation, and the suspects are entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court.

But if the allegations are ultimately established, the case would represent a disturbing example of how criminal conspiracies can allegedly penetrate circles of trust and how one unexpected whistleblower can sometimes expose an entire network before the first victim is taken.

HOW PLATEAU PASTOR ALLEGEDLY MASTERMINDED PLOT TO KIDNAP BISHOPS’ WIVES IN JOS

Seven Killed in Tragic Mine Collapse in Gassa Community

By Zagazola Makama

Seven people have reportedly died following a tragic mine collapse in Gassa Community on Wednesday evening, August 12, 2026.

The incident has raised fresh concerns over safety standards and regulatory compliance in mining operations, particularly in communities where mining activities are carried out.

The deaths have left families and residents of Gassa mourning the loss of their loved ones, with the incident described as a painful setback for the community.

Mining-related accidents continue to pose serious risks to workers and residents, particularly where safety procedures, monitoring and responsible mining practices are not adequately enforced.

The Commissioner for Environment, Climate Change and Mineral Development, Hon. Peter Kanang Gwom, expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and the entire Gassa community over the tragedy.

He described the incident as a painful loss and extended heartfelt sympathies to all those affected, praying that God would grant the bereaved families the strength and fortitude to bear the loss and grant eternal rest to the deceased.

The Commissioner also stressed the need for stronger safety standards, regulatory compliance and effective monitoring of mining activities to prevent similar tragedies.

He called for greater adherence to responsible mining practices to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of people living in mining communities.

The incident has renewed concerns over mining-related accidents and the need for sustained regulatory oversight, safety enforcement and monitoring of mining sites across Plateau State.

Authorities and relevant stakeholders are expected to intensify efforts to ensure compliance with mining safety regulations and promote responsible mining practices capable of protecting both lives and livelihoods.

Seven Killed in Tragic Mine Collapse in Gassa Community

Zulum’s Communication Aide Bundi Wins National Digital Communication Award
…15 individuals, agencies honoured at 6th National Spokespersons Awards in Abuja

By: Michael Mike

The Senior Technical Assistant to Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on Print and Digital Communications, Abdurrahman Bundi, has emerged winner of the Digital Communication category at the 2026 National Spokespersons Awards, joining 14 other individuals and institutions honoured for excellence in public communication.

Bundi received the award at the sixth edition of the National Spokespersons Awards, held alongside the fourth Economic Confidential Lecture at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, on Wednesday.

The recognition places the Borno governor’s communications aide among a select group of professionals and institutions acknowledged for demonstrating impact, innovation and effective engagement in an increasingly digital public-information environment.

Other major recipients included the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya; Director of Corporate Communications at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Hakama Sidi-Ali; Nigerian Customs Service; and Federal Road Safety Corps.

The awards ceremony, chaired by the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku, brought together senior government officials, communication professionals and media practitioners.

Chairman of the awards jury, Professor Saudat Abdulbaqi, disclosed that the 2026 edition attracted 171 nominations, reflecting what she described as the growing interest in professional public communication and strategic reputation management.

She said 99 entries successfully passed the initial eligibility screening before undergoing a second stage of intensive evaluation.

The process eventually produced 42 candidates, from whom 30 finalists emerged across 15 award categories.

Abdulbaqi said a seven-member jury assessed the shortlisted entries against four principal benchmarks: impact, innovation and originality, reach, and quality of evidence.

The rigorous selection process, she said, was designed to ensure that recognition was based on demonstrable professional performance rather than popularity or institutional influence.

The National Spokespersons Awards were organised by Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria, Economic Confidential and Spokespersons Digest.

In his address, IMPR Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Yusha’u Shuaib, said the awards and the Annual Economic Confidential Lecture were established to encourage informed national discourse, reward excellence and raise the standard of professional communication in Nigeria.

He stressed the importance of effective communication in public administration, particularly at a time when governments and institutions must increasingly communicate policies and respond to citizens across rapidly evolving traditional and digital platforms.

The recognition of Bundi in the Digital Communication category highlights the growing importance of digital platforms in government communication and public engagement.

The ceremony attracted prominent figures from Nigeria’s information, public relations, government and security communication sectors.

Among those present was the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Baba Ndace, who represented the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.

Also in attendance were former Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade (rtd.), Professor Sule Ya’u Sule, and other senior communication and public relations professionals.

The organisers said the awards were intended not merely to celebrate individual achievements but also to encourage a culture of evidence-based, innovative and responsible communication across Nigeria’s public and private sectors.

Bundi’s award therefore adds to the growing recognition of strategic communication as an essential component of modern governance, particularly in an era where the speed, reach and influence of digital information can significantly shape public understanding of government policies and programmes.

Zulum’s Communication Aide Bundi Wins National Digital Communication Award
…15 individuals, agencies honoured at 6th National Spokespersons Awards in Abuja