The Adamawa State Police Command has apprehended 34-year-old Tahamado Demian for the abduction of two Catholic priests, Reverend Fathers Abraham Samman of the Jalingo Diocese and Matthew Dusami of the Yola Diocese.
The command’s spokesperson, Suleiman Nguroje, announced the development in a statement shared on X.com on Saturday night.
According to the statement, the rescue operation occurred at a criminal hideout in Gwaida Malam village, a remote area between Numan and Demsa Local Government Areas. The operation, launched on February 21, 2025, led to the suspect’s arrest.
The two victims were rescued unharmed, with no ransom paid. They are currently receiving medical attention. During the operation, law enforcement officers recovered a locally fabricated assault rifle, two mobile phones, and multiple SIM cards.
The statement read:
“In a bid to ensure the protection of lives and property and maintain a safe and secure environment in the state, the command carried out a coordinated rescue operation at a criminal hideout in Gwaida Malam village, located between Numan and Demsa LGAs.
This operation, launched on February 21, 2025, successfully resulted in the arrest of Tahamado Jonathan Demian, 34, a member of the same church as the victims, for the kidnapping of Reverend Fathers Abraham Samman and Matthew Dusami of the Catholic Dioceses of Jalingo and Yola, respectively.
The planned operation safely rescued the two priests without any ransom being paid. The victims are now receiving medical care.
The suspect is currently in custody undergoing a thorough investigation, which has already led to the recovery of a locally fabricated assault rifle, two handsets, and several SIM cards.”
The Commissioner of Police, Dankombo Morris, expressed gratitude to the government, sister security agencies, and the public for their support. He called for continued cooperation to enhance timely responses to security emergencies.
“He therefore encouraged them to sustain the cooperation and collaboration for timely response to emergency situations. The police boss added that together, we will ensure peace and security across the state and beyond through diligent prosecution of the suspect,” the statement concluded.