The priest in charge of St. Peters and Paul Catholic Church l, Kafin-Koro in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, Rev. Fr. Isaac Achi, has been burnt to death by terrorists.
It was gathered that the terrorists, in the early hours of yesterday, also razed the Catholic Church and injured the cleric’s colleague identified as Father Collins.
The gunmen were said to have set the church ablaze after they failed to gain entry into the Catholic parish house where the priests reside.
It was learned that Collins was shot in the shoulder while trying to escape from the scene.
Confirming the incident, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Wasiu, said police officers attached to Kaffin-Koro Division have been drafted to the scene.
Wasiu added that the corpse of the priest was recovered while Collins was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, the Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned the killing of the Catholic priest in the state.
The association, in a statement issued, yesterday by the media aide to the CAN Chairman, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, Daniel Atori, called for investigations into the attacks and the culprits brought to book.
It called on the government at all levels, the police, and other security agencies to double their efforts in tackling banditry and insecurity in the country.
“One of the primary responsibilities of any government is to protect lives and properties of the people, enough of the attacks, and wanton killings of innocent Nigeria citizens,” CAN added.
The association, however, condoled with the Catholic Diocese of Minna, parishioners, and the entire Christendom as well as the immediate family of the slayed priest.
The late Achi was until his death the CAN coordinator of Paikoro Local Government Area, the Dean and Parish Priest of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Kaffin-Koro in Minna Diocese.
Meanwhile, the Police in Niger State said they have deployed reinforcements to track down the suspected killers of Catholic Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Issac Achi of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Paikoro Local Government Area of the state, yesterday.
This was contained in a statement, yesterday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Wasiu Abiodun.
According to the statement, “On 15/01/2023, at about 0300hrs, armed bandits invaded the Parish residence of one Rev. Father Isaac Achi of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church along Daza Road, Kafin-Koro, Paikoro Local Government Area.
“Unfortunately, the bandits reportedly attempted to gain entrance into the residence, but seem difficult and set the house ablaze, while the said Rev. Father was burned to death.
“A colleague of the Rev. Father, identified as Father Collins, was equally shot on the shoulder while trying to escape from the scene.
“The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, OgundeleAyodeji, had dispatched a reinforcement team to the area and effort is ongoing to apprehend the assailants as an investigation into the unfortunate attack has commenced.”
It said that the police tactical teams attached to Kaffin-Koro Division were immediately drafted to the scene, but the hoodlums had escaped before the arrival of the teams.
Abiodun said that the lifeless body of the late Isaac was recovered while Collins was taken to the hospital for treatment.