Crime

JUST IN: Catholic Priest Burnt To Death In Niger State – More Details below

Published

1 year ago

January 15, 2023

A Catholic priest, Very Reverend Father Isaac Achi has been burnt to death in his residence at Kafin Koro, Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.

Edujandon.com reports the home of Very Reverend Father Achi, it was learnt, was attacked by armed bandits at about 3:00 a.m. on Sunday.

Until his death, Achi was the Dean of Kafin Koro Deanery of the Catholic Diocese of Minna and the Reverend Father in charge of St. Peter’s and Paul Catholic Church, Kafin Koro.

According to a reliable source, armed bandits in their numbers stormed the uphill residence of the deceased Reverend Father and burnt it down after about an hour of fruitless effort to force their way into the house.

The bandits were said to have poured Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly refers to as petrol around the house before setting it ablaze.

His assistant, whose name was given as Rev Father Collins, was shut on his leg while trying to escape from the fire and he is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility in Minne, the state capital.

It was gathered that while the gunmen were trying to get access into the house, the deceased, according to our source, put a distress call to a family member who alerted the Divisional Police Office in charge of Kafin Koro Division but the gunmen were said to have outnumbered the police.

It was further gathered that the gunmen, after setting the building on fire, waited until it was razed down to ashes with the late Reverend Father inside before taking their leave without any challenge.

Meanwhile, the state Police Command was yet to issue a statement on the incident, but the Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, Mr Emmanuel Umar, confirmed the murder of the Catholic Priest but said the security agents have been mobilised to the area.

Recall that the late Reverend Father Isaac Achi, a native of Kafin Koro, survived the December 2011 bombing of Saint Theresa Catholic Church, Madella in the Suleja local government area of the state.

Two years later in 2013, the late Reverend Father escaped another kidnap attempt when the gunmen invaded his residence.