The prime suspect who masterminded the kidnapping and murder of a Catholic priest in Kaduna State, has confessed that he carried out the devilish act because he was in need of N200,000 to solve some personal issues.
The chief suspect who was arrested by troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), had reportedly connived with others to kidnap Rev. Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu, who was in charge of the Catholic Diocese of Kafachan, Kaduna State, on March 4, at about 9:15 p.m. at his residence in Tachira, Kaura Local Government of the state, and was later found dead the following day.
According to information, the suspect lived with the priest and was not only a dedicated member of the parish but was also a leading choir member because he allowed the devil to use him to commit the dastardly act.
The suspect who confessed to the crime on Thursday at the headquarters of the OPSH in Jos, said he needed N200,000 to solve a personal problem.
While confessing to the crime, the suspect said he invited other criminals from elsewhere to accomplish the assignment, but denied asking his colleagues to kill the priest.
“Fr Okechukwu is living in our house at Tachira and I masterminded his kidnap because I needed N200,000 to solve a personal problem,” he said.
“I invited some guys (colleagues) from other places to assist me to accomplish the mission but I didn’t ask them to kill him.
“I don’t know why they killed him; I was not with them because I later left them with the priest,” he said.
Another suspect, names withheld, who is also being held at OPSH, said that the chief suspect had called him to assist him to actualise the crime.
“At first, I refused to be part of the deal, but the chief suspect insisted. The chief suspect and I grew up in the same community.
“So, on the said date I left my place in Warsa-Piti in Lere LG and participated in the kidnap of the priest.
“He actually contacted other guys from Bokkos in Plateau who came with guns; after we took the priest and walked for some distance, we left him with them.
“So, we can’t say how and why they allegedly killed the priest,” he said.
Narrating how the suspects were arrested, an official of the OPSH, who preferred anonymity, said that the suspects were arrested on Tuesday, following a raid troops conducted in a settlement at Warsa-Piti community of Lere.
The official said that investigations were ongoing to unravel the whereabouts of the remaining persons who allegedly participated in the heinous crime.
