I kidnapped Kaduna priest to get ₦200,000 – Suspect

A key suspect in the kidnapping and killing of a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Kafachan, Kaduna State, Rev. Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu, has explained his reasons for the crime.

Speaking at the headquarters of Operation Safe Haven in Jos on Thursday, the suspect said he kidnapped Okechukwu because he needed ₦200,000 to solve a personal problem.

Okechukwu was abducted on March 4 at his home in Tachira, Kaura Local Government Area.

His body was found the next day, March 5.

While the suspect admitted to planning the abduction, he denied ordering the priest’s murder.

“Fr. Okechukwu was living in our house in Tachira. I planned his kidnapping because I needed ₦200,000 to solve a problem.

“I invited some guys from other places to help, but I never told them to kill him. I don’t know why they did it because I had already left before it happened,” he said.

Another suspect, also in custody, confirmed that the chief suspect pressured him into joining the crime.

“At first, I refused, but he insisted. We grew up in the same community, so I later agreed. On that day, I left my place in Warsa-Piti, Lere Local Government, to join in the kidnapping.

“He also brought in others from Bokkos in Plateau State, and they came with guns. After we took the priest and walked some distance, we left him with them. We don’t know why they killed him,” he said.

On Wednesday, PUNCH Online reported that the suspects were arrested on Tuesday following a raid by troops in a settlement at the Warsa-Piti community of Lere LGA of the state.