Church member arrested for kidnapping Adamawa reverend fathers

The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested a 34-year-old church member for allegedly kidnapping two Catholic priests, Reverend Fathers Abraham Samman and Matthew David Dusami, in a shocking betrayal of trust.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, the suspect, identified as Tahamado Jonathan Demian, was apprehended during a coordinated police operation at a criminal hideout in Gwaida Malam village, a remote area between Numan and Demsa LGAs.

The police operation, which began on February 21, 2025, successfully led to the rescue of the victims unharmed, without any ransom being paid. The police also recovered a locally fabricated assault rifle, a handset, and SIM cards from the suspect.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Dankombo Morris, commended the swift efforts of the officers and expressed gratitude for the support from the government, sister security agencies, and the public.

“This arrest and successful rescue operation demonstrate our commitment to ensuring peace and security across the state. We urge the public to continue supporting the police with timely information to aid our response to criminal activities,” CP Morris stated.

The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue, and the authorities have assured the public of a diligent prosecution.