A Catholic priest, Very Rev. Fr. Issac Achi, of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, in the Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, was on Sunday burnt to death by bandits.
The bandits, it was learnt, had attempted to gain entrance into the residence of the priest. When their efforts became unsuccessful, the set the house ablaze while the Rev. Father was inside, burning him to death.
The incident was confirmed by the Niger State Police Command.
The state police said it had deployed a reinforcement team to track down the suspected killers of the priest.
The statement issued on Sunday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said the bandits invaded the parish residence of Rev Achi on Sunday, burnt the residence, with the priest inside.
The statement read partly, “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.”
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.
Father Collins was rushed to the hospital for treatment, according to Abiodun, while the deceased priest’s body was found.