By Ade Oyeyemi
A 26-year-old security guard, Godwin Dauda, has been arrested by the Niger State Police Command over the alleged rape and killing of an 11-year-old girl, Christabel Albert, in Suleja.
The suspect, who was attached to the Apostolic Church in Suleja, was accused of luring the girl into his security room before allegedly committing the offence and dumping her body inside a well within the church premises.
The incident reportedly occurred on September 19, 2026, after Albert left her home to attend a relative’s birthday celebration but failed to return.
According to the police, the girl’s disappearance was reported at the Suleja Police Division on September 20 by one of her relatives.
The matter took a dramatic turn later that day when a pastor from the Apostolic Church reportedly arrived at the police station to report that a body had been discovered inside a well on the church premises.
Police officers subsequently visited the scene and, with the assistance of local government welfare officials, recovered the body and took it to the General Hospital, Suleja.
The corpse was later identified as that of the missing 11-year-old girl.
The police said suspicion fell on Dauda after investigators discovered that the security guard had fled the church premises following the incident.
The suspect was subsequently arrested around Kuje in the Federal Capital Territory on September 23, where he was allegedly hiding.
The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrest and said preliminary investigations were ongoing.
Abiodun said the suspect, during interrogation, allegedly confessed to luring the girl into his security room on September 19 and raping her.
He reportedly told investigators that the girl died during the incident, after which he allegedly dumped her remains inside the church well in an attempt to conceal the crime before fleeing the area.
The police spokesman said the suspect would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna for further investigation and diligent prosecution.
He said, “On 20th September 2026 at about 12.30pm, a report of a missing person was made at A Division, Suleja from behind Photo Palace, Suleja, that one Christabel Albert, 11 years old, was missing after she left home on 19th September 2026 to attend a birthday ceremony of a relative within the area, and she was yet to return home.
“Later in the evening, a pastor from the Apostolic Church Suleja rushed to the police station and reported that a dead body was found inside a well within the church premises.
“Police moved to the scene and with the help of LGA welfare staff, the corpse was removed and taken to the General Hospital Suleja, where the corpse was later identified to be the missing girl.”
Abiodun added that investigators subsequently linked the security guard to the incident after he fled from the church premises.
READ ALSO
- Security guard arrested over alleged rape, killing of 11-year-old girl
- Sowore claims Tinubu receiving treatment in France
- N627bn revenue row deepens as ADC, govt trade allegations
- Court adjourns Sowore’s cyberbullying trial to October 2
- Mama Omotosho shaped my life, Ondo Deputy Governor recounts, celebrates virtuous woman at 90
He said Dauda was arrested around Kuje on September 23, adding that the suspect allegedly confessed during interrogation.
The police said investigations were continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, while the suspect would be subjected to further investigation before prosecution.
