KANO, Nigeria – Armed attackers burnt a Catholic priest alive and kidnapped 5 worshippers in two separate assaults in central and northwestern Nigeria, police mentioned.
Insecurity is a serious challenge in Africa’s most populous nation the place common elections are scheduled subsequent month.
Around 0200 GMT in Kafin-Koro village in Niger state, criminals recognized domestically as “bandits” set hearth to a priest’s residence, burning him alive, police mentioned.
The criminals set Father Isaac Achi’s home alight after failing to entry the home.
“Unfortunately, the bandits… set the house ablaze, while the said Rev. Father was burnt to death,” mentioned Wasiu Biodun, police spokesman in Niger state.
The bandits shot and injured one other priest recognized as Father Collins whereas he was attempting to flee, he added.
“The lifeless body of Father Isaac was recovered while Father Collins was rushed to the hospital for treatment.”
In a separate assault hours later, bandits invaded a Christian dwelling in Dan Tsauni village within the Kankara district of Katsina state, kidnapping 5 individuals as they had been making ready for Sunday mass at a close-by church.
“The terrorists seized five people from the house, shot a priest in the hand and fled with the five hostages,” Gambo Isa, the state’s police spokesman advised AFP.
The priest was taken to hospital for remedy, Isa mentioned.
In December 2020, closely armed bandits kidnapped greater than 300 schoolboys from a boarding secondary college in Kankara and herded them to neighboring Zamfara state.
The boys had been launched per week later after talks with authorities officers.
Although the felony gangs are largely motivated by monetary positive aspects from ransom funds, some have solid ties with jihadists from northeast Nigeria the place they’re waging a 14-year outdated insurgency to determine a Caliphate. — Agence France-Presse
