Pope Francis Calls For Prayer For Catholic Priest Burnt To Death By Bandits

Pope Francis has requested prayer for the soul of Rev. Father Isaac Achi, a Nigerian Catholic priest who was assassinated on January 15th, last Sunday by alleged bandits.

Pope Francis also urged everyone to remember in their prayers the many Christians who experience direct violence during the General Audience on Wednesday, January 18, 2023.

In his speech, the pope specifically mentioned Father Achi, who lived next to Kafin-Koro Secondary School in the Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.

After that, the Pope spoke of the “battered Ukraine,” urging everyone to remember the people in their prayers since they “greatly need [our] closeness, consolation, and above all peace.”

He mentioned the most recent missile attack that happened last Saturday, killing and injuring many civilians, including children, and said he understands the families’ “heartbreaking pain.”

Father Achi was allegedly burned alive in the early hours of Sunday.

It was reported that his colleague, Father Collins, was injured by the robbers who broke into his home at three in the morning on Sunday, January 15, 2023.

Father Collins was wounded in the shoulder while attempting to flee the 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.

According to DSP Abiodun Wasiu, a spokesman for the Niger Police Command, “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 an investigation into the unfortunate attack has commenced.”

The chairman of the CAN, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, has also denounced the incident, urging for investigations into the attacks and the arrest of those responsible.