Newsonspot reports that gunmen on Sunday morning unleashed terror on Kafin Koro Community in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State burning a Reverend Father, Isaac Achi of Saint Peter and Paul Catholic Church, to death.
The bandits were said to have invaded the community at about 1 am and began shooting sporadically while heading to the uphill residence of the Rev. Father.
According to a resident of the community who identified himself as Paul, the bandits divided themselves into two while some went to the Catholic priest’s official residence, the others stayed in the town shooting to wade away any form of interference.
Paul stated that when the bandits couldn’t assess the late Achi’s residence after a long while, they set the building ablaze and waited until it burnt to ashes with him in it.
Reverend Father Isaac Achi
A source in the area also said 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, 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 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 investigation into the unfortunate attack has commenced.”