BLACK SUNDAY! Catholic Priest Burnt Alive In Niger As Gunmen Invade Parish House

…Another shot, escapes with injuries

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

The late Rev. Father Achi, until his death, was the Kafin Koro Deanery of the Minna Diocese of Niger state and Reverend Father in charge of St. Peter’s and Paul Catholic Kafin Koro.

According to a source close to Kafin Koro, the gunmen in their numbers stormed the up hill residence of the deceased Rev. Father which is about one Kilometer from the main town around 1:00am and surrounded his house.

After about an hour fruitless effort to force their way into the house, the gunmen were said to have poured Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly refers to as Petrol round 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 fertility in Minna, the state capital.

It was however 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 out numbered 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 taken their leave without any challenge.

Sunday Sun reports that the state Police Command was yet to issue a statement on the incidence, 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 mobilized to the area.

It could 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 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.