Olusegun Ariyo
Troops of the special military task force, Operation Safe Haven, OPSH, have arrested two suspects in connection with the killing of Catholic priest Rev Fr Sylvester Okechukwu.
This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Jos by Major Samson Zhakom, the Media Officer of OPSH.
Okechukwu, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Kaduna State, was abducted on March 4 at about 9:15 p.m.
The priest, who was kidnapped from his residence in Tachira, Kaura Local Government Area of the state, was later found dead on March 5.
According to Zhakom, the suspects were arrested on Tuesday following a raid in a settlement at Warsa-Piti community in Lere LGA of the state.
“The suspects were apprehended following a raid on the prime suspect’s hideout at a Ruga settlement in Warsa-Piti community, Lere LGA of Kaduna State.
“During preliminary investigations, the prime suspect, a 33-year-old man, confessed to being contracted by another individual who lived in the same house as the slain priest to kidnap him.
“In a follow-up operation, troops arrested the second suspect at Agwan Sarki, Tachira, in Kaura LGA. The suspects are currently in custody undergoing further interrogation,” he said.
The media officer added that investigations were still ongoing to determine the whereabouts of other individuals involved in the heinous crime.
