Reverend Father Isaac Achi, a Catholic priest, burnt in his home in Kafin Koro, Paikoro Local Government Area, Niger State.
Before he died, the late Rev. Father Achi was in charge of St. Peter's and Paul Catholic Kafin Koro and the Kafin Koro Deanery of the Minna Diocese of Niger state.
A person close to Kafin Koro said that around 1:00 am, a large group of gunmen surrounded the house of the late Rev. Father, which was on a hill about one kilometer from the main town.
After trying for about an hour without success to get into the house, the gunmen are said to have poured Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), which is more commonly known as gasoline, around the house and then set it on fire.
His assistant, whose name was given as Rev. Father Collins, was hurt when a door shut on his leg as he tried to escape the fire. He is now getting care at an unnamed medical facility in Minna, the capital of the state.
It was said that while the gunmen were trying to get into the house, the person Father sent a distress call to a family member, who then called the Divisional Police Office in charge of the Kafin Koro Division. However, the police were outnumbered by the gunmen.
After setting the building on fire, it was also learned that the gunmen waited until the building was completely destroyed before leaving without a fight.
The state Police Command hasn't said anything about what happened yet, but Mr. Emmanuel Umar, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, has confirmed that the Catholic Priest was killed and said that security agents have been sent to the area.
People might remember that Reverend Father Isaac Achi, who was from Kafin Koro, lived through the bombing of Saint Theresa Catholic Church, Madella, in the state's Suleja local government area in December 2011.
