A prime suspect (names withheld) in the kidnapping and murder of Rev. Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu has provided reasons for his actions.
In an exclusive interview, the suspect, who stated that he needed N200,000 to resolve a personal issue, spoke to NAN at the Headquarters of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), where he is currently being held, on Thursday in Jos.
The chief suspect is assisting detectives in uncovering the cause of the incident and in efforts to apprehend other suspects currently on the run.
Okechukwu, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Kaduna State, was abducted on March 4 at approximately 9:15 p.m. from his residence in Tachira, Kaura Local Government Area of the state. He was later found dead on March 5.
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The main suspect, who admitted to inviting other criminals from different areas to help with the crime, denied instructing his accomplices to kill the priest.
“Fr Okechukwu was living in our house at Tachira, and I masterminded his kidnapping because I needed N200,000 to solve a personal problem. I invited some men (acquaintances) from other areas to assist me in carrying out the mission, but I did not ask them to kill him.
“I don’t know why they allegedly killed him; I was not with them at that point, as I left them with the priest later on,” he said.
Another suspect, whose name has also been withheld, and who is also being held at OPSH, stated that the prime suspect had called upon him to assist in carrying out the crime.
“At first, I refused to be part of it, but the main suspect insisted. We grew up in the same community. On the specified date, I left my home in Warsa-Piti, Lere Local Government Area, and took part in the abduction of the priest.
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“He actually contacted other men from Bokkos in Plateau, who came armed. After we took the priest and walked a short distance, we left him with them. Therefore, we cannot say how or why they allegedly killed the priest,” he said.
An official of the OPSH, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that the suspects were arrested on Tuesday following a raid conducted by troops in the Warsa-Piti settlement of Lere.
The official stated that investigations are ongoing to determine the whereabouts of the remaining individuals who are suspected to have been involved in this heinous crime.
