Bishop of Jos denies link to ex-worker in kidnapping plot against bishops' wives

A former employee of the Anglican Diocese of Jos and two security personnel are helping the police with a reported plan to kidnap the wives of the current and former bishops. The diocese shared this information in a statement.

The diocese stated that security agencies stepped in before the suspects could carry out the plan.

It dismissed reports claiming the main suspect is a current clergyman under Bishop Ephraim Gongden. The church clarified that the suspect worked for the diocese but was fired in 2022 by the previous bishop and was never brought back by Gongden.

This clarification came in a statement released on Tuesday by Harrison Ugwuala, the Registrar of the Anglican Diocese of Jos. The statement followed the spread of reports and images on social media that linked the suspect to the current church leadership and implied that Gongden was involved in the alleged crime.

The diocese explained that the main suspect poses as a clergyman and has previously worked in the diocese. "He was NOT reinstated by the present Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Jos," the statement said.

"This individual is NOT a clergyman in the employment, authority, or jurisdiction of the Anglican Diocese of Jos," it added. "The Anglican Diocese of Jos has no working relationship whatsoever with this individual."

Reports about the kidnapping plot referred to the suspect as a clergyman, which could mislead people into thinking he was still part of the Anglican Church. The diocese stated that this description was wrong and could wrongly connect the current church leadership to the alleged crime.

The plot reportedly involved the wives of both bishops. The diocese did not share details on how the plot was discovered or how the suspects were caught.

It confirmed that there was an attempt to kidnap and praised the security agencies for their swift action. The diocese did not comment on the roles of the two security operatives or say whether they were members of any specific agency.

This issue is expected to clear up as the security agencies continue their investigations. The diocese said it reported what it called misinformation and online harassment related to the incident to the appropriate security and legal bodies.

It urged church members and the public to stay calm while investigations unfold. "Evil will not have the last word," the church stated.

The police have not released the names of the suspects.