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Nigeria: Terrorists Burn Catholic Priest to Death, Shoot Assistant

January 16, 2023

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“BREAKING: Terrorists Burn Catholic Priest To Ashes, Shoot Assistant In Niger Community, North Central Nigeria,” Sahara Reporters, January 15, 2023:

Fr. Achi was recently transferred to Madalla Parish in the state but was in Kafin-Koro, his former home parish when the incident occurred.

Bandits in the early hours of Sunday attacked St. Peters [sic] and Paul Catholic Church located along Daza Road, Kafin-Koro in the Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger 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 SaharaReporters, the Niger Police Public Relations Officer DSP Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement, said the incident occurred at about 3 am on Sunday.

In a statement sent to SaharaReporters, 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….