Army arrests suspects as abductors of monarch demand N500m ransom

Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN and General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigeria Army, Major General Ibrahim Ali said abductors of Sum Pyem, a traditional ruler of Gindiri, in Mangu Local Council of Plateau State, Mr. Charles Mato have demanded a ransom of N500 million.

He said his officers have also arrested some suspects in connection to the abduction of the monarch and are giving credible information leading to his safe rescue.

Gen. Ali disclosed this yesterday when the officials of the Correspondent’s Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ), Plateau State Councils visited him at the STF headquarters in Jos, Plateau State.

Recall that gunmen suspected to be bandits on Sunday morning kidnapped the traditional ruler at his residence at Gindri in Mangu Local Council of the state. He said: “The abductors of the traditional ruler have called and demanded a ransom of N500 million to secure his release.

We have arrested some suspects; they are in our custody. These are people we feel have knowledge of the incident. We have picked them up and they are being interrogated.”

The Commander said that his men have been deployed to the area to conduct serious search and rescue operation. He said: “You can be kidnapped by anybody, anytime and anywhere.

“But we are working round the clock and have put modalities on ground to end the menace,” he said. He urged journalists to use their various platforms to support the military in their bid to end all forms of insecurity in the country.

Chairman Correspondents’ Chapel, NUJ, Plateau State, Mr. Gyang Bere said the visit was to familiarise with the Command, strengthen existing relationships and seek better collaboration towards peaceful co-existence.