A Catholic priest in St Peter and Paul Catholic Church has been burnt to death by bandits in the early hours of Sunday.
The terrorist group was said to have invaded the church located along Daza Road, Kafin-Koro in the Paikoro Local Government Area of the State and burnt the priest, Very Rev. Fr. Isaac Achi to ashes.
A source in the area told SaharaReporters that Fr. Achi’s assistant identified as Father Collins also sustained gunshot wounds and was rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.
The source said Fr. Achi was recently transferred to Madalla Parish in the state but was in Kafin-Koro, his former home parish when the incident occurred.
Confirming the incident to the Niger Police Public Relations Officer DSP Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement, said the incident occurred at about 3 am on Sunday.
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 Division 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 investigation into the unfortunate attack has commenced.”
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