Reports coming in say bandits attacked Kafin Koro Community in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria in the early hours of Sunday have burnt a Reverend Father, Isaac Achi of Saint Peter and Paul Catholic Church, to death.
According to a family source, Rev. Father Achi was first abducted in Madalla and spent days in captivity until his church members raised some ransom before he regained freedom.
Still in Madalla, the priest was shot on his jaw when he went to bless a child during a naming ceremony. Gunmen were said to have invaded the house and started attacking persons when the priest, said to be giant statured, stood up to them. He was flown abroad for treatment but the mark was visible on him afterwards.
The priest, who survived all that and the Christmas day bombing of St. Theresa Catholic church, Madalla, by Boko Haram in 2011, where 44 persons were killed, was burnt alive in the early hours of Sunday at his residence opposite Kafin-Koro Secondary School in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The deceased priest hailed from the area and was celebrated as the first indigenous Catholic priest from Gbagyi/Koro land.
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.
Reports say a resident of the community who identified himself as Paul said, 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.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) was said to have been reached but couldn’t get to Achi until the Rev. Father had died.
The body of Rev. Father Isaac Achi was found among the charred parish building of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church on Jan. 15, according to the Catholic Diocese of Minna, Nigeria.
Another priest at the rectory, Rev. Father Collins Omeh, escaped the building, but sustained gunshot wounds and is being treated in a hospital, according to Catholic News Agency, Rome Newsroom.
15th of January 2021, it was Fr John GBAKAN. 15th of January 2023, its Now Fr Isaac ACHI, Both of Minna Diocese, Niger State, Nigeria.Both gruesomely killed by bandits. We stand with the church at this critical period, May God protect and save the church, we are deeply hurt and Our hearts are heavy…. may the soul of fr Isaac Achi rest in perfect peace.. Amen😭🥺🥺🥺🙏