In a significant breakthrough, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF)
apprehended Yusuf Ismael Isah, a 32-
year-old man hailing from Okene, Kogi
State, for orchestrating an audacious attack on the convoy of renowned
religious leader, Apostle Johnson Suleman.
The incident occurred on October 21, 2022, as Apostle Johnson
Suleman, the esteemed founder of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Auchi, was
traveling along the Benin-Auchi Road. Tragically, six individuals, including
three police officers, lost their lives in the heinous assault.
After a relentless pursuit, the operatives of the Federal
Intelligence Bureau’s (FIB) Special Tactical Squad (IRT) successfully uncovered
crucial leads, ultimately leading to the arrest of Yusuf Ismael Isah.
Unfortunately, only two members of the seven-man gang were neutralized during
separate encounters with the police, while the remaining four suspects managed
to evade capture, currently being on the run.
Hailing from Okene, Kogi State, Yusuf Ismael Isah worked as a
plumber at Agbaraoluwa Phase 2 in Ijoka, Akure, Ondo State. His arrest yielded
a shocking discovery, as the police found five AK47 rifles, two K2 assault
rifles, 180 live ammunition, and four suspected improvised explosive devices
(IEDs) concealed within his apartment.
According to CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public
Relations Officer (FPRO), investigations conclusively established that the
arrested suspect was a member of the 7-man gang responsible for the attack on
Apostle Johnson Suleman’s convoy. Furthermore, it was revealed that some of the
rifles found in Yusuf Ismael Isah’s possession were, in fact, the very firearms
snatched from the three police officers who had tragically lost their lives
during the October 21, 2022 attack.
During a media briefing, Yusuf Ismael Isah confessed that he
had joined the ruthless gang in 2021 shortly after being released from the
Olokuta Correctional Centre. He had been held there since 2019 on charges
related to armed robbery.
Speaking to journalists, the suspect provided insights into
the gang’s activities. He disclosed that he and his cohorts had meticulously
tracked Apostle Johnson Suleman, ultimately launching the assault with their
five AK47 rifles.
Yusuf Ismael Isah clarified, “The attack on him
(Suleman) was to assassinate him. I was not part of the discussion; Ilayasu and
Labisca were the ones involved in the discussion.” However, he maintained
that he remained unaware of the identity of the individual who had issued the
order to assassinate the prominent cleric.
The suspect further admitted that the gang specialized in
kidnapping for ransom, having carried out at least four abductions between 2021
and 2023, including the assault on Apostle Johnson Suleman’s convoy. However,
their criminal endeavors eventually met their downfall when the police
apprehended them.
Moreover, Yusuf Ismael Isah divulged that the gang had
orchestrated the high-profile kidnapping of a prominent oil dealer in Jetu,
Auchi, in 2022, successfully extracting a ransom of approximately N70 million
before the victim’s release. Additionally, in 2022, the gang abducted a
businessperson along the Benin-Agbor Expressway, extorting a ransom of N20
million from the victim’s family.
Their final recorded attempt at kidnapping occurred
subsequent to the failed attack on Apostle Johnson Suleman, as they targeted an
individual on the Owo-Ikare Road. However, the gang found themselves engaged in
a fierce confrontation with the police escorting their intended victim,
resulting in their forceful repulsion.
With the arrest of Yusuf Ismael Isah and the ongoing pursuit
of the remaining gang members, the Nigeria Police Force has achieved a
significant milestone in dismantling this criminal network responsible for a
series of violent crimes, including the assault on Apostle Johnson Suleman’s
convoy.
