Jos Anglican Diocese Denies Bishop’s Link To Foiled Kidnap Attempt

The Anglican Diocese of Jos has denied any connection between its incumbent Bishop, Rt. Rev. Prof. Ephraim J. Gongden, and a foiled attempt to kidnap the wives of the current and immediate-past bishops of the Diocese.

The Diocese, in a statement signed by its Registrar, Harrison N. Ugwuala, Esq., on Tuesday, said it was concerned by what it described as misleading reports, false images and misrepresentations circulating on social media over the alleged kidnap attempt involving Mrs. Esther G. Gongden, wife of the incumbent bishop, and Mrs. Gloria Kwashi, wife of the immediate-past Bishop of Jos.

The Diocese, while confirming that an attempted kidnapping occurred, said one of the suspects was a man who presented himself as a clergyman and had previously worked in the Diocese of Jos before he was dismissed in 2022 by the former bishop.

It, however, categorically denied reports suggesting that the suspect was reinstated by the present bishop or remained a clergyman under the authority or jurisdiction of the Diocese.

According to the statement, “He was NOT reinstated by the present Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Jos. He is NOT a clergyman in the employment, authority, or jurisdiction of the Anglican Diocese of Jos. The Anglican Diocese of Jos has no working relationship whatsoever with this individual.”

The Diocese also condemned the use of Bishop Gongden’s photograph in reports concerning the alleged crime, saying it created the false impression that the bishop was the suspect.

“It is unfortunate and malicious that the picture of the Rt. Rev. Prof. Ephraim J. Gongden, FSTAN, the incumbent Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Jos, is being used and circulated in connection with this incident as if he is the suspect,” the statement said.

The church described the publication of the bishop’s photograph alongside claims that “the clergyman is from the Diocese of Jos” as deliberate blackmail, wickedness, misrepresentation and an act of hatred.

The Diocese further accused those behind the reports of attempting to portray the victims as perpetrators and damage the reputation of the Diocese, the office of the bishop and the Church.

It said it condemned in the strongest terms the criminal attempt against the women and expressed gratitude to God and security agencies for their intervention.

The statement also urged media organisations, bloggers and social media users to desist from publishing or circulating unverified information, false images and defamatory content.

“We urge the public to verify facts before sharing. The Church is a house of peace and truth, and we will not allow the name of Christ and His Church to be dragged into criminality,” it said.

The Diocese disclosed that it had reported the alleged misinformation and cyber-bullying to relevant security and legal authorities for necessary action.
It also appealed to members of the Diocese and the wider Christian community to remain calm, prayerful and united.

The statement came against the backdrop of reports alleging that a clergyman identified as Rev. Hassan Yunisim Mijah was arrested alongside two military personnel over an alleged plot to abduct the wives of the current and former Anglican bishops.

The reports claimed that the alleged plot was uncovered after a naval officer who was allegedly approached to participate in the operation alerted Bishop Gongden.

According to the reports, the naval officer subsequently worked with operatives of the Plateau State Police Command’s Vigilance and Criminal Response Unit (VCRU) to expose the alleged syndicate.

It was alleged that Mijah later contacted the naval officer over the provision of a safehouse for the intended victims and subsequently travelled to a location monitored by the police alongside two military personnel.

The reports identified the two military personnel as Sergeant Ezra Sunday of the Nigerian Air Force and OS Usman Khalid of the Nigerian Navy.

They further alleged that police operatives arrested the suspects at the location after they arrived to collect keys to the purported safehouse.

The reports claimed that investigators subsequently uncovered an alleged ransom demand of ₦100 million, with the kidnappers allegedly instructed not to accept less than ₦50 million.

They also alleged that the suspect had initially approached a militia group to execute the operation but later abandoned the arrangement after disagreement over conditions imposed by the group.

However, the Diocese’s statement did not confirm these specific allegations or the identities and roles attributed to the suspects in the reports.

It instead focused on correcting what it described as false narratives linking the alleged suspect to the present administration of the Diocese and the use of the incumbent bishop’s image in connection with the crime.

The Diocese called on the public to rely on verified information as investigations by security agencies continue.