Suspect Confesses to Plot to Kill Apostle Johnson Suleman.
A shocking revelation has emerged regarding the attempted assassination of renowned Nigerian televangelist, Apostle Johnson Suleman. The suspect, Yusuf Isa, a 32-year-old plumber from Okene in Kogi State, has confessed to being part of a group hired to kill the clergyman. Suleman, the founder of Omega Fire Ministry, was targeted in a frightening incident that took place in October 2022 in Edo State.
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Yusuf Isa was presented to the media by Force spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi in Abuja last week. In a video interview shared on Twitter, Isa disclosed the elaborate measures his eight-member team employed to evade capture by security forces. He attributed his arrest to divine intervention, suggesting that it was only by the grace of God that he was apprehended.
Isa explained that his group communicated via the Telegram platform, using usernames instead of phone numbers to avoid detection.
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They did not use registered phone lines and operated discreetly, taking precautions to conceal their identities. He expressed astonishment at the police’s ability to track them down, given the high-profile nature of their targets.
Although Isa claimed ignorance of who sponsored the attack, he revealed that his gang members informed him they were paid N50 million to carry out the hit on Apostle Suleman. He expressed remorse and a desire to seek forgiveness from the televangelist, saying, “I just wish I could see him one on one to beg for forgiveness. I’m really sorry.”
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Isa also mentioned the loss his gang had suffered since the attack, with two leaders, Labista and Eliazu, meeting unfortunate ends. He assumed leadership after the death of Eliazu but was subsequently arrested.
According to earlier reports, the gunmen attacked Apostle Suleman’s convoy, resulting in the deaths of seven people, including three police officers. The incident occurred in the Auchi area of Edo State while Suleman was en route to an undisclosed location shortly after returning from Tanzania.
Force spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi confirmed Isa’s arrest in Ondo State. He stated that the intelligence revealed a seven-member syndicate involved in kidnapping operations in Edo State and its environs. The group had carried out multiple kidnappings between 2021 and 2023 before being apprehended by the police.
