Bandits burn Catholic priest alive in Niger; police begin manhunt

A Catholic priest, Reverend Father Isaac Achi, was on Sunday gruesomely murdered by suspected bandits who set his abode alight after failing to gain entry.

The gruesome killing took place at the rectory of St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Kafin Koro, Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, where Mr Achi was the presiding priest.

Confirming the attack to Peoples Gazette, police spokesman in Niger, Wasiu Abiodun, said the assailants attacked the priest at about 3:00 a.m. on Sunday.

Another victim, identified as Father Collins sustained gunshot wounds in his shoulder while attempting to escape from the burning building.

Mr Abiodun detailed that the bandits escaped before the Kafin Koro police division could reach the scene of the attack.

He however declared that Police Commissioner Ayodeji Ogundele had ordered a reinforcement team to the area of the attack to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the criminals, while investigations are ongoing.

The charred body of the deceased has been recovered and secured, and the injured victim has been taken to the hospital for medical treatment,” the police spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has described Mr Achi’s killing as “ungodly and inhumane,” urging local security agencies to track down the attackers.

Recently, Niger became a hotbed of terrorist attacks. Last year, Boko Haram insurgents occupied communities near Nigeria’s major hydropower station in Shiroro. The development forced Governor Bello to cry out against the imminent threat.