The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a Catholic Reverend Father and six other suspects for allegedly supplying firearms and ammunition to bandits terrorising communities in Plateau State and neighbouring areas.
The arrests were announced on Sunday by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, during a parade of the suspects at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
According to police investigations, the priest and his accomplices were part of a syndicate that procured and distributed weapons, including AK-47 rifles and locally made pistols, to criminal elements operating across Plateau, Kaduna, and Nasarawa states.
The breakthrough came after the January 2025 arrest of one Joseph Tata in Mikang Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Tata’s confession led detectives to other members of the network, culminating in the priest’s arrest in Jos last week. Police say the cleric allegedly used his position to facilitate the movement of weapons without raising suspicion.
The Catholic Diocese of Jos has distanced itself from the allegations, stating that the priest has been placed on indefinite suspension pending the outcome of investigations. In a brief statement, the diocese described the development as “shocking and painful” and urged the public to allow law enforcement agencies to conclude their work.
Plateau State has been one of the epicentres of banditry and ethno-religious violence in Nigeria’s North-Central region, with thousands killed and displaced in the last five years.
Security analysts say the influx of illegal firearms continues to fuel attacks on farming communities, kidnappings, and reprisals between herders and farmers.
The police have assured the public that all suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate.
The case has once again highlighted the complex networks sustaining insecurity in the country.
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