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

Nigerian police have apprehended a 26-year-old security guard, identified as Godwin Dauda, in connection to the alleged murder of an 11-year-old girl named Christabel Albert in Suleja. The young girl went missing on September 19, 2026, after venturing out to attend a relative's birthday party but never returned. According to a press release by the Niger State Police Command, Christabel's body was found inside a well on the premises of the Apostolic Church in Suleja.

The remains were subsequently transported to Suleja General Hospital for further examination as part of their ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. The probe subsequently culminated in the arrest of Dauda, who is employed as a security officer at the church and hails from the Kuje area of the Federal Capital Territory.

The police spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed during an interview that Dauda allegedly revealed during questioning that he had lured Christabel to his room following which he allegedly sexually assaulted her, leading to her untimely demise. He further confessed to investigators that he disposed of her remains by throwing them into the well located within the church grounds.

Dauda has since been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further investigation and prosecution in line with the applicable laws.