The Bishop of Yola Catholic Diocese, Stephen Dami Mamza, has debunked claims that Taledo Damian, the recently arrested suspect in the abduction of two Catholic priests, was a mass server or cleric within the diocese.

Addressing a press conference in Yola, Bishop Mamza clarified that while the suspect was a church member, he never served in any official capacity. He cautioned against misinformation that could tarnish the reputation of dedicated clergy and mass servers.

“I want to make it absolutely clear that the kidnapper is not a mass server, nor is he a cleric. He is simply a member of the church. There has been a lot of misinformation about his identity, and it is important to correct this,” the bishop stated.

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Bishop Mamza commended the Department of State Services (DSS) and local vigilante operatives for their swift action in rescuing the priests without ransom payment. He revealed that the suspect initially evaded capture but was later apprehended after an accident while fleeing.

The priests, Rev. Father Mathew David Dusami of Yola Diocese and Rev. Father Abraham Samman of Jalingo Diocese, were kidnapped on February 22 at Father Dusami’s residence in Gwaida Malam, Numan. Following their rescue, medical examinations confirmed they were in stable condition.

Reaffirming the church’s commitment to security, Bishop Mamza pledged continued collaboration with authorities to safeguard clergy and worshippers.