Crime
Black Sunday: Catholic priest burned to death in Niger
Black Sunday: Catholic priest burned to death in Niger
A Catholic priest, Reverend Father Isaac Achi, has been burned to death in his residence at Kafin Koro, Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The late Rev Father Achi, until his death, was the Kafin Koro Deanery of the Minna Diocese of Niger state and the Reverend Father in charge of St. Peter’s and Paul Catholic Kafin Koro.
According to a source close to Kafin Koro, the gunmen in their numbers stormed the uphill residence of the deceased Rev. Father which is about one Kilometer from the main town around 1:00 am and surrounded his house.
After about an hour of fruitless effort to force their way into the house, the gunmen 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 fertility 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.
It could be recalled 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.
Black Sunday: Catholic priest burned to death in Niger
Troops repel ISWAP attack in Chibok as NAF obliterates scores of fleeing terrorists
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the 28 Task Force Brigade, Sector 4 Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), early Saturday repelled a large-scale attack by ISWAP/Boko Haram terrorists in Chibok, Borno State, while the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) neutralised scores of the fleeing fighters during a follow-up air interdiction.
Zagazola gathered that the terrorists, numbering over 300, launched a coordinated multi-front assault on the community at about 3:00 a.m., attempting to breach defensive locations and overwhelm deployed troops.
A security source told Zagazola that the soldiers immediately responded with superior firepower and well-coordinated manoeuvres, engaging the attackers in a two-hour gun battle that forced them to retreat toward the Timbuktu Triangle.
“The troops were alert and professionally contained the attack. There was no casualty on our side, and no equipment was affected,” the source said.
Following the terrorists’ withdrawal, ground forces requested air support, prompting the immediate deployment of NAF combat aircraft to the identified withdrawal axis.
“The NAF jet delivered precise and devastating strikes along the terrorists’ escape route, obliterating a significant number of the fighters and disrupting their movement,” the source added.
According to the sources, four major airstrikes were conducted by NAF combat aircraft along the terrorists’ withdrawal route toward the Timbuktu Triangle. The airstrikes were guided by real-time intelligence from ground troops of the 28 Task Force Brigade, Sector 4 Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK).
The sources said that the first wave of strikes targeted a cluster of fleeing terrorists attempting to regroup, “achieving significant degradation of the hostile elements.” Subsequent strikes pursued additional pockets of fighters dispersing into forested terrain.
In addition to the four strikes executed by manned aircraft, the sources confirms that another set of attacks was carried out by an unmanned aerial platform.
“The platform maintained continuous ISR coverage and engaged with high precision. Its strikes further eliminated retreating fighters and disrupted their movement pattern,” the sources notes.
The sources emphasised that the combination of air and ground coordination ensured that the terrorists suffered “substantial losses,” preventing any possibility of reorganisation after the failed offensive.
Troops repel ISWAP attack in Chibok as NAF obliterates scores of fleeing terrorists
Armed bandits attack Kwandawa village in Sokoto, most kidnapped victims rescued
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits attacked Kwandawa village in Sokoto State in the early hours of November 26, kidnapping several residents, but most of the victims were rescued unharmed.
Zagazola report that the assailants, described as numerous and carrying sophisticated weapons, invaded the village around 2:30 a.m., firing sporadically and abducting an unspecified number of people.
A coordinated response engaged the attackers in a prolonged gun duel, forcing them to flee into nearby bushes with apparent gunshot injuries.
While the majority of the kidnapped villagers were rescued unhurt, two victims remain unaccounted for. No casualties were reported among the villagers or the responding security personnel.
Security forces are combing the surrounding area to rescue the remaining victims and apprehend the bandits, with neighboring districts alerted to block potential escape routes.
Armed bandits attack Kwandawa village in Sokoto, most kidnapped victims rescued
Troops foiled Armed bandits’ attack at Bulunku Zamzam Hotel in Gusau
By: Zagazola Makama
A suspected bandit attack was foiled by Nigerian troops in Gusau, Zamfara State, in the early hours of November 27, after gunmen stormed Bulunku Zamzam Hotel and areas behind NTA Samaru.
According to sources, the attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons, engaged security operatives in a prolonged gun duel.
The confrontation forced the bandits to retreat, sustaining possible gunshot injuries. No abduction or casualties were recorded during the incident.
Patrols and monitoring remain active in the area to prevent further criminal activities and ensure public safety.
Troops foiled Armed bandits’ attack at Bulunku Zamzam Hotel in Gusau
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