Usuf Isah, a suspect arrested in connection with the attack on Nigerian cleric Apostle Johnson Suleman’s convoy, has claimed that he was unaware of the identity of the attack’s sponsor. The incident occurred in October 2022 in Edo State, resulting in the death of several police officers who were part of the cleric’s security detail.
Isah, a 32-year-old plumber from Okene in Kogi State, was paraded by the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in Abuja. In a recorded interview on Twitter, Isah revealed that his gang, consisting of eight members, received N50 million for the hit job on the pastor.
He explained that his gang employed secure communication methods, primarily using the Telegram platform, which operates with usernames rather than phone numbers like WhatsApp. Isah claimed that they did not make calls and utilized unregistered phone lines and data connections to avoid detection.
Isah admitted that his gang intended to kill the cleric but denied knowledge of the person who sponsored the attack. He expressed remorse and a desire to apologize to the pastor if given the opportunity. Isah also mentioned that two leaders of the gang, Labista and Eliazu, were involved in the attack, with Labista currently on the run and Eliazu deceased.
Apostle Suleman had previously criticized the Nigerian police, stating that they were initially reluctant to apprehend the suspects involved in the attack on his family until he personally mobilized the officers. He claimed to have collaborated with multiple police units to ensure progress in the investigation.
In a recorded interview on Twitter, Isah said his eight-member gang collected N50million for the hit job of the Nigerian pastor.
“It is not easy for the Police Force to track us. We don’t make calls, the phone I am using I’ve never used it to call anybody. We specialised in using the Telegram platform to communicate with ourselves.
“Telegram uses username, not number, unlike WhatsApp. Even the line we are using to buy data, it is not a registered line. We did not register any line by ourselves, and we did not open any account with our own identity.
“I can only say that only God wanted to track me down because of the calibre of people we have assaulted. We wanted to kill him. Somebody planned it, but I don’t know the person. It was Labista and Eliazu. Labista is on the run, but Eliazu is dead,” he said when asked about their intention for the attack.
Isah declined knowledge of who sponsored the attack but said his gang members told him they got N50 million to kill the cleric.
“I just wish I could see him (the cleric) one on one to beg for forgiveness. I’m really sorry,” he said. “We lost two of our leaders. After Eliazu, the next leader, Ejima, also died. I am the next leader after Ejima. Now I have been arrested.”
