Crime
The Enemy Within: How Betrayal Led to the Murder of a Reverend Father in Kaduna
The Enemy Within: How Betrayal Led to the Murder of a Reverend Father in Kaduna
By Zagazola Makama
In times of crisis, the greatest threats are often believed to come from outside terrorists, kidnappers, or criminals lurking in the shadows. Yet, as the tragic murder of Reverend Father Sylvester Okechukwu in Kaduna State reveals, sometimes the most dangerous enemy is the one within.
Father Okechukwu was not just a clergyman; he was a man who dedicated his life to service and faith. But even within the sanctity of his home, danger lurked. The person who orchestrated his abduction and eventual murder was not a faceless criminal from a distant land, but someone who shared his living space.
Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN made a major breakthrough on March 25, 2025, when they arrested the killers of Father Okechukwu. Acting on intelligence, security forces raided the hideout of the prime suspect, 33-year-old Pate Yau, at a Ruga settlement in Warsa-Piti village, Lere Local Government Area (LGA). Under questioning, Yau confessed that he had been contracted to carry out the abduction by none other than Douglas Henry a man who lived under the same roof as the slain priest.
The revelation was as chilling as it was tragic. Douglas Henry, a man trusted enough to share a home with the priest, had allegedly masterminded the crime. Acting swiftly, troops proceeded to Agwan Sariki Tachira in Kaura LGA, where Henry was arrested. Both suspects are now in custody, undergoing further interrogation.
The brutal murder of Father Okechukwu forces us to confront an uncomfortable truth: sometimes, the greatest threats do not come from strangers but from those closest to us. The concept of the enemy within is not new, but it is one that continues to haunt societies worldwide. Whether it is betrayal within families, workplaces, or communities, the pain of being harmed by someone trusted cuts deeper than any wound inflicted by an outsider.
In this case, Father Okechukwu’s killers were not unknown bandits roaming the forests; they were people who knew his routines, his vulnerabilities, and, tragically, his kindness. It is a chilling reminder that while we often look outward for danger, we must also be vigilant about those within our circles.
The arrest of the suspects is a victory for security forces, but it also serves as a cautionary tale. Nigerians, particularly those in positions of service and leadership, must exercise caution in their interactions and associations. The rising cases of kidnappings and assassinations orchestrated by trusted associates are a stark warning loyalty is not always guaranteed, and familiarity does not always mean safety.
This case also point to the need for improved intelligence gathering and communal vigilance. Security forces can only do so much; communities must play their part by reporting suspicious activities and individuals. Trust is essential in any society, but blind trust can be dangerous.
The enemy within is often the hardest to detect, but it is also the most dangerous. As Nigeria grapples with insecurity, it is crucial that people remain vigilant not just against external threats, but also against those who might be hiding in plain sight.
The Enemy Within: How Betrayal Led to the Murder of a Reverend Father in Kaduna
FCT Police arrest two notorious armed robbers in Kurudu
By: Zagazola Makama
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested two notorious armed robbery suspects terrorising Kurudu and its environs.
The suspects, identified as Hassan Adamu and Auwal Mohammed, both aged 25, were arrested on May 8 at about 2:00 p.m. during a targeted raid by operatives of the Scorpion Squad.
Police sources said that the suspects were linked to multiple violent robbery incidents in the area.
“One of the suspects confessed to a specific robbery at Angwan Hausawa, Kurudu, where a male victim, identified as Mohammed, was stabbed and later died from the injuries sustained during the attack.
Acting on credible intelligence, police operatives stormed a criminal hideout in Kurudu where the suspects were apprehended. A sharp dagger, reportedly intended for use against police operatives, was recovered during the search.
The suspects also revealed the identities of other members of their gang who remain at large and are believed to be armed.
The police sources said a manhunt is ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and recover additional weapons.
FCT Police arrest two notorious armed robbers in Kurudu
Gunmen kill four in Logo lga of Benue, as security forces intensify hunt for killers
By: Zagazola Makama
Four persons have been killed by suspected armed men in Tse-Nyamkyume, Tombo Council Ward, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, the Police Command confirmed on Tuesday.
Zagazola Makama report that the victims, identified as Matthew Mvendaga, Mernangwajume, Ushahemba Mvendaga, and a woman whose full identity is yet to be confirmed, were shot dead around 11 p.m. on Monday by gunmen suspected to have come from Guma Local Government Area.
The sources said that a top Police Officer was currently leading a combined team of conventional policemen and personnel from the Police Mobile Force (PMF) to comb the area in pursuit of the assailants.
The police sources assured residents that efforts were being intensified to apprehend those behind the attack and bring them to justice.
Gunmen kill four in Logo lga of Benue, as security forces intensify hunt for killers
Six Military personnel, two civilians arrested over death of suspect in kaduna
By: Zagazola Makama
Atleast Six Military personnel and two civilians were arrested in connection with the alleged torture and death of a 65-year-old man, Surajo, popularly known as “Alhaji M,” in Millennium City, Kaduna.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident reportedly occurred on May 3, 2025, when two civilians, Alhaji Adamu Jinjiri, of Shehu Laminu Road, Unguwan Rimi, and Ibrahim Yakubu, of Maladanga Road, Unguwan Rimi, apprehended the deceased over allegations of conspiracy and theft.
The suspects accused the victim of aiding one Yahaya Aleiru, currently at large, in stealing a cow and an electrical distribution box. They allegedly handed Surajo over to operatives of the Millennium City Strike Force, a military security unit in the area.
According to a police sources, the victim was severely tortured at a checkpoint by the military personnel, including one Lieutenant Alhassan Musa and five others, leading to his collapse.
Surajo was later rushed to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
Sources from the Kaduna State Police Command said all eight suspects, including the six soldiers and the two civilians who initiated the arrest, have been taken into custody.
“The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Kaduna, for discreet investigation,” a police source told Zagazola Makama.
Six Military personnel, two civilians arrested over death of suspect in kaduna
-
News1 year agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions3 years agoTHE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions3 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Columns1 year agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
ACADEMICS1 year agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Opinions1 year agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
Politics9 months agoKashim Shettima: Of Sentiments, Their Opinions, and the 21 billion Naira VP’s Official Resident
