Niger police arrest security guard over alleged killing of 11-year-old girl

The Niger State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old security guard, Godwin Dauda, over the alleged killing of an 11-year-old girl, Christabel Albert, in Suleja.

The girl was reported missing on September 19, 2026, after leaving home to attend a relative’s birthday celebration but failed to return.

According to a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, on Friday, the girl’s remains were later discovered inside a well within the premises of the Apostolic Church in Suleja.

The police said the body was recovered and taken to Suleja General Hospital for examination as part of the investigation into her death.

The investigation subsequently led to the arrest of Dauda, who works as a security officer at the church and resides in the Kuje area of the Federal Capital Territory.

The command said the suspect allegedly confessed during interrogation that he took the girl to his room, where he sexually assaulted her, after which she died.

He allegedly told investigators that he subsequently disposed of her remains by throwing them into the well on the church premises.

The police said the suspect had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further investigation and prosecution in accordance with the law.