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

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

Osun Poll: Rights Group Demands Protection for Accord Members, Probe of ‘Killing’ Claim

…SOJA warns against political violence, urges security agencies to act before Saturday’s governorship election

By: Michael Mike

A human rights and anti-corruption advocacy group, Speak Out for Justice Advocacy Ltd/GTE (SOJA), has called for immediate protection of political actors and voters in Osun State following an alleged call for the killing of members of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

SOJA, in a statement issued on Thursday, demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into a video allegedly showing Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, making comments at a political gathering in Ilesa that could be interpreted as urging supporters to kill Accord Party members before the election.

The organisation, however, acknowledged the senator’s subsequent appearance at the police invitation and his denial that he called for anyone to be physically killed.

According to SOJA, Fadahunsi explained that his use of the word “killing” was intended to mean defeating his political opponents with votes.

The rights group said it would not prejudge the outcome of the police inquiry, stressing that the authenticity, context and meaning of the controversial statement must be objectively established by competent authorities.

It nevertheless warned that the senator’s explanation could not, on its own, eliminate the need for investigation, particularly given the heightened political atmosphere in Osun ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.

“Where words capable of being reasonably understood as a call to violence against identifiable political opponents are publicly uttered in an atmosphere of political tension, the State has a responsibility to investigate the circumstances thoroughly and to take reasonable measures to prevent the words from translating into violence,” SOJA said.

The organisation warned political parties and their supporters against turning electoral competition into a struggle involving intimidation, bloodshed or physical attacks.

It stressed that political contests in a constitutional democracy should be decided through ideas, policies, campaigns and ultimately the ballot box.

“No political party owns Nigeria. No politician owns Osun State. No political office confers a licence to threaten, intimidate, assault or kill political opponents,” the group said.

SOJA also rejected the notion that political opponents should be treated as enemies, insisting that membership of Accord or any other political party cannot deprive a Nigerian of the protection of the law.

The group said the State has a responsibility not only to investigate violence after it occurs but also to take preventive measures where there is a credible risk to lives.

With the election only days away, SOJA urged security agencies to intensify intelligence-led operations in identified political flashpoints across Osun State.

It called for equal protection for members and supporters of Accord, APC, PDP and all other legally recognised political parties, warning against selective enforcement or the use of security agencies to intimidate opposition supporters.

The organisation also urged authorities to ensure that no citizen is prevented by threats, violence or coercion from attending political meetings, associating with political parties or casting a ballot.

“Government must not wait until a political supporter is killed before taking the risk seriously,” SOJA said.

The advocacy group called on the Federal Government, Osun State Government, Nigeria Police Force, other security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a comprehensive examination of the controversial video.

It specifically asked investigators to establish the source and authenticity of the recording, examine the complete footage and surrounding statements, and determine whether any offence was committed under applicable Nigerian law.

Where evidence establishes criminal conduct, SOJA said, prosecution should follow in accordance with due process.

It also demanded that the investigation be conducted without political interference, intimidation or selective application of the law.

The organisation drew attention to provisions of the Electoral Act relating to inflammatory campaign language and threats of violence, arguing that the reported statement should be assessed within the context of the electoral laws and other applicable legislation.

SOJA separately appealed to Fadahunsi, as a serving senator, to make an unequivocal public declaration rejecting political violence.

It urged him to publicly state that he neither supports nor condones the killing, assault, intimidation or harassment of Accord Party members or any Nigerian because of political affiliation.

“If his assertion that he meant ‘kill them with votes’ represents the true meaning of his words, then SOJA urges him to state this clearly and publicly and to encourage his supporters to defeat their political opponents only through lawful democratic means and the ballot box,” the group said.

The rights organisation also appealed to all parties and their supporters to exercise restraint, warning against retaliation and political thuggery.

“No perceived provocation justifies revenge. No electoral ambition justifies murder. No political office is worth a human life. No election victory is worth the destruction of Osun State,” it said.

SOJA maintained that its condemnation of political violence was not targeted at any particular party, stressing that the lives of Nigerians should not be valued according to political affiliation.

“We condemn the killing of APC members. We condemn the killing of Accord Party members. We condemn the killing of PDP members. We condemn the killing of supporters of every political party,” it said.

The group urged political leaders to recognise that inflammatory statements could have consequences beyond their immediate audience, particularly when repeated by supporters or interpreted as instructions by political thugs.

SOJA called on political actors to ensure that the August 15 election is conducted in an atmosphere where voters can move freely, express their preferences without fear and participate in the democratic process without intimidation.

It urged security agencies to remain politically neutral and protect citizens rather than political interests.

“The forthcoming Osun Governorship Election must be an exercise in democracy, not a theatre of violence,” the organisation said.

“Political leaders must compete for votes, not lives. Security agencies must protect citizens, not political interests. Law enforcement must investigate credible threats before they become tragedies.”

The group appealed for the people of Osun State to reject violence and allow the ballot to determine the next governor.

“Let the votes decide. Let the law prevail. Let every citizen live.” The group stated.

Osun Poll: Rights Group Demands Protection for Accord Members, Probe of ‘Killing’ Claim