A tragic incident has unfolded in Suleja, Niger State, where a 26-year-old security guard, Godwin Dauda, has been arrested for allegedly raping and murdering an 11-year-old girl, Christabel Albert. The young girl’s body was discovered in a well on the premises of the Apostolic Church, where Dauda was employed.

The horrifying events began on September 19, 2026, when Christabel was reported missing after she left home to attend a birthday party. Concerned family members lodged a report with the police, prompting an investigation into her whereabouts.

On September 20, a pastor from the Apostolic Church alerted the Suleja Police Division after discovering a corpse in the church's well. Authorities quickly responded, and upon retrieving the body, they confirmed it was that of the missing girl. This discovery led police to intensify their investigation, which soon pointed to Dauda as a suspect.

According to the Niger State Police Command spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, preliminary investigations revealed that Dauda had lured Christabel into his security room at the church. It is alleged that he raped her, leading to her death, before attempting to conceal the crime by disposing of her body in the well. Following the incident, Dauda fled the scene, escaping to Kuje in the Federal Capital Territory.

Police tracked him down and arrested him on September 23, 2026. During interrogation, Dauda reportedly confessed to the crime, detailing how he had lured the girl and subsequently committed the act. He is now in police custody, awaiting transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further prosecution.

The community has been left in shock over the brutal nature of the crime, highlighting ongoing concerns about child safety and the protection of minors in Nigeria. As investigations continue, the police have assured the public that they will pursue justice for Christabel and her grieving family.