The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State has denounced the assassination of a Catholic priest, Rev. Father Isaac Achi in the state’s Paikoro Local Government Area.
According to reports, the terrorists tried to enter the Catholic parish house but were unsuccessful. They then allegedly set the parish house on fire and waited until it burned to ashes with the priest, who was inside.
The chairman of the CAN, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, urged for investigations into the attacks and the arrest of those responsible in a statement released on Sunday in Minna by Daniel Atori, his media assistant.
The statement said, “CAN, Niger State, strongly condemns the gruesome killing of Very Rev. Fr. Isaac Achi, priest of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Kaffin Koro, in Paikoro LGA.”
The CAN chairman urged the police, other security services, and all tiers of government to step up efforts to combat banditry and insecurity.
He said, “One of the primary responsibilities of any government is to protect lives and properties of the people, enough of the attacks and wanton killings of innocent Nigeria citizens.
“In the early hours of today (Sunday), the bandits got to the community, shooting sporadically, setting ablaze the Catholic Parish house, killed the parish priest and injured his assistant.”
The association sent its condolences to the priest’s immediate family as well as to the Catholic Diocese of Minna, parishioners, the entire Christendom, and the congregation.
Yohanna, who also happens to be the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, prayed for the soul of the late Achi as well as the souls of all the faithful gone to rest in peace.
Prior to his passing, the late Achi served as the Dean and Parish Priest of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Kaffinkoro in the Minna Diocese as well as the CAN Coordinator of Paikoro LGA.