Terrorists attacks catholic church in Niger community, burns priest to ashes, shoots assistant.

Fr. Achi was at Kafin-Koro, his previous home parish, at the time of the tragedy despite having recently been transferred to Madalla Parish in the state.

Early on Sunday morning, bandits broke into St. Peters and Paul Catholic Church in Kafin-Koro, Niger State’s Paikoro Local Government Area, and they set Very Rev. Fr. Isaac Achi on fire.

According to a local source, Father Collins, Fr. Achi’s aide, also suffered gunshot wounds and was sent to an unnamed hospital for treatment.

According to the source, Fr. Achi was in his former parish of Kafin-Koro at the time of the incident despite having recently been transferred to Madalla Parish in the state.

The Niger Police Public Relations Officer DSP Wasiu Abiodun confirmed the event to SaharaReporters in a statement, stating that it happened at around 3 a.m. on Sunday.

Abiodun said in a statement sent to SaharaReporters, “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.”