Police begin hunt for Niger Catholic priest’s killers

Niger gov reacts to Catholic priest's murder, demands drastic action

The Niger State Police Command has announced that it has sent out a reinforcement team to find the killers of Very Rev. Fr. Issac Achi of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church that was burnt to death on Sunday in the Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.

This was said in a statement released on Sunday by the state’s police public relations officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun.

Earlier today, some bandits broke into Rev. Achi’s parish home and set it on fire while the priest was inside.

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

“A colleague of the Rev. Father, identified as Father Collins, was equally shot in the shoulder while trying to escape from the scene.

“The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, 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,” the police said.

According to the statement, Kaffin-Koro Division tactical police squads were dispatched right away to the area, but the bandits had already fled by the time they arrived.

Abiodun said the body of the late priest was recovered while Father Collins was taken to hospital for treatment.

Religion Nigeria reported that the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, led by Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, has also condemned the dastardly act in a statement.

CAN called on the three tiers of government to do more in securing lives and property in the state and urged the authorities to apprehend the suspected killers.

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