“I Kidnapped Murdered Rev. Fr. Because I Needed N200,000” – Housemate

By Adesina Soyooye

Henry Douglas, the main suspect in the kidnap and murder of a Kaduna-based Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu, has disclosed why he arranged his kidnap.

Rev. Fr. Okechukwu of the Diocese of Kafanchan, Kaduna State, was abducted from his residence in Tachira, Kaura Local Government Area, at about 9.15pm on March 4, 2025. Sadly, on March 5, his mangled body was found along the road where it was dumped.

Unknown to the late Priest, it was his housemate – his – neighbour, Douglas, who arranged for his abduction.

The cat was let out of the bag when one of those who abducted him, Pate Yau,  was arrested by detectives of Operation Safe Heaven.

Yau confessed that he was  hired by Douglas for the heinous crime.

On arrest, Douglas confessed that he invited his colleagues in crime to kidnap the Priest because he needed the sum of N200,000 to take care of a problem. But he denied he asked them to kill him.

Speaking at the Headquarters of the Operation Safe Heavens, the suspect said: “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  narrated: “I invited some guys 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.”

Yau, in his own confession said: “At first, I refused to be part of the deal, but Douglas insisted. He and I grew up in the same community.

“So, on the said date, I left my place in Warsa-Piti in Lere Local Government and participated in the kidnap of the Priest.

“He contacted other guys from Bokkos in Plateau who came with guns. After we took the Priest and walked  some distance, we left him with them.

“So, we can’t say how and why they killed the Priest.”

The Military is working round the clock to arrest the other members of the murderous gang.