Taledo Damiel, a 34-year-old Catholic Church altar server, has been arrested on Saturday night for allegedly masterminding the abduction of two priests for a ₦10 million ransom in Adamawa State.
In a statement on Sunday, the Nigerian police confirmed that Damiel was arrested in connection with the kidnapping of Rev. Fathers Matthew David Dusami and Abraham Samman of the Adamawa and Taraba dioceses, respectively.
The clerics were reportedly abducted two weeks ago at a convent in Gwaida Mallam, located in the Numan Local Government Area of the state.
We had earlier reported on March 8 that Damiel initially evaded arrest at the location where he was supposed to collect the ransom money.
However, he left behind critical evidence, including a motorcycle, which led police to his inherited apartment. There, the abducted priests were found and rescued.
After abandoning the ransom and fleeing the scene, Damiel was later tracked and apprehended by police operatives.
The spokesperson for the Adamawa State Police Command, SP Suleiman Nguroje, confirmed that Damiel had been taken into custody. He added that the rescued priests have since been reunited with their Catholic family.
Nguroje also disclosed that a locally fabricated assault rifle was recovered at the crime scene.
He stated, “In a bid to ensure protection of lives and property, a safe and secured environment in the state, the command carried out a coordinated rescue operation at a particular criminal hideout situated at a remote side of Gwaida Mallam village connecting parts of Numan and Demsa LGAs.
“These rescue operations commenced from February 21, 2025, in various criminal hideouts within the state and it yielded positive results as one Tahamado Jonathan Demian, 34 years old, a member of the same church with the victims, was arrested for kidnapping of his two Reverend fathers (Abraham Samman and Matthew David Dusami) of Catholic Dioceses of Yola and Jalingo respectively.
“The Command’s planned operation had successfully rescued the two Reverend fathers unhurt and no dime was paid as ransom. The victims are now receiving medical attention.
“The suspect was apprehended and now taken into custody for discreet investigation.”
Nguroje added that the state police commissioner, Dankombo Morris, is committed to ridding the state of violent crimes
