Breaking: Tragedy As Bandits Burn Catholic Priest Alive In Niger State, Shot Another Priest

A Catholic Priest, Rev. Father Isaac Achi, serving in Niger State, has been killed by bandits who invaded his home around 3 am on Sunday.

Rev. Fr Isaac Achi, a Catholic Priest, has been killed by bandits who invaded his residence around 3 am on Sunday.

As learned by this medium, the killers couldn’t gain access to him due to the strong fortified security he has and they decided to burn down the building housing the Priest.

According to a  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 Minna, 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.

The gunmen it was learnt, 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 Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed he tragic incident said another priest was shot during the attack.

In a statement, Abiodun said, “On 15/01/2023 at about 0300hrs, armed bandits invaded the Parish residence of one Rev. Father Isaac Achi of St. Peters and Paul Catholic Church, along Daza road, Kafin-Koro, Paikoro LGA.

“Unfortunately, the bandits reportedly attempted to gain entrance into the residence, but seems difficult and set the house ablaze, while the said Rev. Father was burnt dead.

“A colleague of the Rev. Father identified as Father Collins was equally shot in the shoulder while trying to escape from the scene. Police tactical teams attached to Kafin-Koro Div were immediately drafted to the scene, but the hoodlums had escaped before the arrival of the teams.

“The lifeless body of Father Isaac was recovered while Father Collins was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

“The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command CP Ogundele Ayodeji 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.”

He was also the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Paikoro Local Government Area, Niger State.

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.

It would be recalled 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.