*Burn Catholic priest in his house in Niger
*Invade Katsina church, abduct 25
It was a bloody weekend in the country as terrorists inflicted pain and fear on the residents of Niger and Katsina states, as bandits early Sunday morning gruesomly burnt a Catholic priest, Isaac Achi, the parish priest of St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Kafin-Koro in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger state, and abducted the parish cook.
The brigande was followed in Katsina State early Sunday morning when Islamic fundamentalists invaded the New Life For All Church in the Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, kidnapping at least 25 worshippers.
In Niger state, it was reported that the bandits invaded the community in the wee hours of Sunday, and started shooting sporadically while heading to the residence of the priest.
An eyewitness in the area, who identified himself as Paul, said the bandits divided themselves into two, some went to the Catholic priest’s official residence, while others stationed themselves in the town shooting to wade off any form of interference.
Paul confirmed that when the bandits couldn’t access the late Achi’s residence after a long while, they set the building ablaze and waited until the priest burnt to ashes.
In Gurara Local Government Area of the same Niger-East Senatorial zone, hoodlums also killed Mohammed Abdulsafur, the Village Head of Lambata in Suleja Emirate Council.
Abdulsafur was killed after the hoodlums invaded his palace in the community and injured two of his son.
An inside source told The AUTHORITY that, trouble started during a political meeting in the area, when he (Abdulsafur) reported to be crowned by the Emir of Suleja, Mallam Awwal Ibrahim about three years ago, stood up to speak when it was time for a traditional ruler to speak.
Irked by the action, one Iliya Shuaibu, same Lambata village head, said to be installed by the current chairman, Gurara Local Government, walked up to him and removed the cap of the murdered monarch, and questioned him, explaining that he was not recognized as the chief.
Prior to his killing, Abdulsafur ran to the Gurara police station for safety, but later returned to his house when he thought the tension was over, but was attacked and killed by the mobs.
Following the ugly development, Niger state governor, Abubakar Sani Bello has imposed a 6:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew on the Lambata community.
In a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, Sunday, said that the curfew takes effect from yesterday, January 15, 2023 till further notice.
The government condemned the killing of the monarch, and described the incident as an act of lawlessness.
It also charged the security agencies to restore peace in the area.
“Government has condemned in strong terms the violence and act of lawlessness that has occurred in Lambata town.
“The imposition of the curfew in Lambata was to assist the security agencies to stabilize the situation in the area, save lives and enable the restoration of law and order”
The Niger State Police Command said it had deployed a reinforcement team to track down the suspected killers of a Catholic priest, Very Rev. Fr. Issac Achi, of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church.
This is contained in a statement issued Sunday, by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Wasiu Abiodun.*Terrorists kidnap 25 worshippers in Katsina
Similarly, Islamic fundamentalists struck later same Sunday morning, when armed terrorists invaded the New Life For All Church in the Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, kidnapping at least 25 worshippers.
Eyewitnesses said the terrorists riding on motorcycles invaded the Katsina church at Dan-Tsauni Gidan Haruna Community in the early hours of Sunday when faithful were in church.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Aminu Bello Masari on Christian Affairs, Rev. Ishaya Jurau, disclosed this on Sunday.
He said: “Bandits attacked New Life for All Church in Jan-Tsauni, Gidan Haruna in Kankara local government of Katsina State today (Sunday) around 10 am.
“They abducted 25 worshippers and left the church pastor with injuries while they were conducting service this morning.
“The security are currently on top of the situation. They are working tirelessly to rescue the victims unhurt. We appreciate the efforts of the security.”
Bandits had similarly abducted over 300 pupils from a secondary school in Kankara on December 11, 2020.
