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Tag: Isaac Achi

  • Slain Catholic cleric, Reverend Father Isaac Achi buried in Minna

    Slain Catholic cleric, Reverend Father Isaac Achi buried in Minna

    Reverend Father Isaac Achi of St. Peters and Paul Catholic Church in Kafin-Koro, Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, who got burnt by bandits few weeks ago has been buried at the St Michael Catholic Cemetery in Bosso, Local Government Areas of the state amid tears.

    Catholic priests stormed the cemetery in their large numbers to pay their last respect to one of their own who lost his life to banditry.

    Recall that the priest was set ablaze in his residence when the bandits could not gain access to the parish house last Sunday, while his assistant, Fr. Collins was shot while trying to escape.

    Reverend Father Achi was the CAN coordinator of Paikoro Local Government Area, and the Dean and Parish Priest of St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church Kaffin-Koro in Minna Diocese.

    Speaking during the funeral service, the Dean of the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Catholic University, Port Harcourt, Very Reverend Father Samuel Gwimi described the gruesome murder of Fr. Achi as shocking to him and other priests.

    According to him: “We are still looking for answers and explanations as to why he was killed, but we have also consoled ourselves in the Lord knowing the slain priest is resting in the bosom of God.”

    Gwimi called on other priests and Christians to immortalize Rev. Achi by exhibiting his character of generosity and seeker of truth and peace.

    “Father Achi has touched every one of us in one way or the other. His generosity to individuals and groups cannot be quantified, and that is why his death is painful to us all. The separation from him is painful because of the touch and impact he has had in our lives.”

    He also appealed to political leaders and security agents in the nation to be more proactive about the issues of security to stop future occurrences from happening.

    “Father Achi fought a good fight of faith and finished the race and is already sitting peacefully with God,” the cleric added.

     

  • Pope urges Catholic congregants to pray for murdered Father Achi, other Christians

    Pope urges Catholic congregants to pray for murdered Father Achi, other Christians

    The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has urged congregants to pray for Isaac Achi, a reverend father brutally murdered by bandits last week in Minna, Niger State.

    “I ask all of you to join me in praying for Father Isaac Achi, of the Diocese of Minna in northern Nigeria, who was killed last Sunday in an attack on his rectory,” the Pope beseeched pilgrims gathered at the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on Wednesday.

    Pope urges Catholic congregants to pray for murdered Father Achi, other Christians

    “So many Christians continue to be the target of violence: let us remember them in our prayers!” Pope Francis added.

    Father Achi was set ablaze by angry bandits after they were unable to gain entry to the parish residence where he dwelled.

    In the same vein, the Pope condoled the victims of a church bombing in Kasindi, Congo, which left at least 14 people dead and more than 60 injured.

    Pope urges Catholic congregants to pray for murdered Father Achi, other Christians

    The Islamic State terrorist group had taken responsibility for the bomb attack.

    The bombing in the Congolese church occurred the same day the priest (Achi) was burned alive in Nigeria.

    The Pope expressed “compassion and closeness to all the families so hard hit by this tragedy.”

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Father Achi hailed from Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State and was celebrated as the first indigenous Catholic priest from Gbagyi/Koro land.

    After his ordination on January 7, 1995, Father Achi was later transferred to the Minna Archdiocese of the church from where he was moved to different parishes.

    He was drawn into the church in his early childhood and was very magnificent until the killers cut short his life’s journey.

    It was gathered that his assailants decided to burn down the building when they could not access where the priest was.

  • CAN Youth wing condemn killing of Priest in Minna

    CAN Youth wing condemn killing of Priest in Minna

    Amb. Belusochukwu Enwere, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (Youth Wing) has condemned the killing of a priest in Minna, Niger, by bandits.

    According to Enwere, the killing of Rev. Fr Isaac Achi, a Catholic Priest of Minna diocese on Sunday at about 1 am by bandits is pure terrorist attack.

    “The killing and burning alive the  priest as well as the parish house is the most wicked and barbaric act by this blood sucking bandits whose aims and objectives are becoming suspicious.

    “But our enemies will not succeeded so long as Nigeria remains a secular state,” he said.

    He said that the continuous killing as well as kidnapping of Christian clerics in Nigeria is alarming.

    “This has to be stopped at all cost. The Christian community must rise up and come together to put to an end this insult.

    “Those behind this senseless killings and burning of the parish house must be brought to book.

    “Nigeria is becoming a killing field where Christian clerics and its members are slaughtered like chicken,” he said.

    The chairman called on the Federal Government, security agencies, government of Niger state to help salvage this ugly situation before it got out of control.

    Enwere sent his condolences to the Niger State Christian community as well as the Catholic diocese of Minna.

    Rev. Fr Achi was on early hours of Sunday, at the Rectory (Fathers’ House) of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Kafin Koro, attacked and shot dead and burnt beyond recognition.

    His assistant, Fr Colins Omeh sustained severe bullet wounds.

    He was also Parish Priest of SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Kafin Koro in Niger State and the Dean of Kafin Koro Deanery.

  • Police begin manhunt for killers of Catholic Priest in Niger

    Police begin manhunt for killers of Catholic Priest in Niger

    The Police in Niger said they deployed reinforcements to track down suspected killers of Catholic Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Issac Achi of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Paikoro Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.

    This is contained in a statement on Sunday issued by DSP Wasiu Abiodun, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state.

    According to the statement, “On 15/01/2023 at about 0300hrs, armed bandits invaded the Parish residence of one Rev. Father Isaac Achi of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church along Daza road, Kafin-Koro, Paikoro Local Government Area.

    “Unfortunately, the bandits reportedly attempted to gain entrance into the residence, but seems 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 on 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.”

    It said that the police tactical teams attached to Kaffin-Koro Division were immediately drafted to the scene, but the hoodlums had escaped before the arrival of the teams.

    Abiodun said that the lifeless body of late Isaac was recovered while Father Collins was taken to the hospital for treatment.

    Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), led by Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, had condemned the dastardly act in a statement.

    CAN called on the three tiers of government to do more in securing lives and property in the state and urged the authorities to apprehend the suspected killers.

  • CAN flays killing of Catholic Priest in Niger State

    CAN flays killing of Catholic Priest in Niger State

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger has condemned the killing of a Catholic Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Isaac Achi, in Paikoro Local Government Area of the state.

    A statement issued by Daniel Atori, media aide to the CAN Chairman, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna on Sunday in Minna called for investigations into the attacks and the culprits brought to book.

    “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 local government area of Niger state.’’

    The CAN chairman called on the government at all levels, the police and other security agencies to double their efforts in tackling banditry and insecurity.

    “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 condoled the Catholic Diocese of Minna, parishioners and  the entire Christendom as well as the immediate family of  the slayed priest.

    Yohanna, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, prayed for the repose of the soul of late Achi and the souls of all the faithful departed to rest in peace.

    The late Achi was until his death, the CAN Coordinator of Paikoro local government area, the Dean and Parish Priest of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church kaffinkoro in  Minna Diocese.

  • BREAKING: Catholic priest burnt to death in Niger State

    BREAKING: Catholic priest burnt to death in Niger State

    A Catholic priest, Very Reverend Father Isaac Achi has been burnt to death in his residence at Kafin Koro, Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the home of Very Reverend Father Achi, it was learnt, was attacked by armed bandits at about 3:00 a.m. on Sunday.

    Until his death, Achi was the Dean of Kafin Koro Deanery of the Catholic Diocese of Minna and the Reverend Father in charge of St. Peter’s and Paul Catholic Church, Kafin Koro.

    He was also the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Paikoro Local Government Area, Niger State.

    According to a reliable source, armed bandits in their numbers stormed the uphill residence of the deceased Reverend Father and burnt it down after about an hour of fruitless effort to force their way into the house.

    The bandits were said to have poured Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly refers to as petrol around the house before setting it ablaze.

    His assistant, whose name was given as Rev Father Collins, was shut on his leg while trying to escape from the fire and he is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility in Minna, the state capital.

    It was gathered that while the gunmen were trying to get access into the house, the deceased, according to our source, put a distress call to a family member who alerted the Divisional Police Office in charge of Kafin Koro Division but the gunmen were said to have outnumbered the police.

    It was further gathered that the gunmen, after setting the building on fire, waited until it was razed down to ashes with the late Reverend Father inside before taking their leave without any challenge.

    Meanwhile, the state Police Command was yet to issue a statement on the incident, but the Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, Mr Emmanuel Umar, confirmed the murder of the Catholic Priest but said the security agents have been mobilised to the area.

    Recall that the late Reverend Father Isaac Achi, a native of Kafin Koro, survived the December 2011 bombing of Saint Theresa Catholic Church, Madella in the Suleja local government area of the state.

    Two years later in 2013, the late Reverend Father escaped another kidnap attempt when the gunmen invaded his residence.