In two separate attacks in central and northern Nigeria, armed gunmen burned a Catholic priest alive and kidnapped five worshipers, according to the police.
In the most populous nation in Africa, where general elections are set for next month, insecurity is a significant problem.
Police reported that about 2:00 GMT, “bandits” in the Niger state village of Kafin-Koro set fire to a priest’s home, killing him.
After being unable to enter the house, the thieves set Father Isaac Achi’s home on fire.
“Unfortunately, the bandits… set the house ablaze, while the said Rev. Father was burnt to death,” said Wasiu Biodun, police spokesman in Niger state.
The bandits shot and injured another priest identified as Father Collins while he was trying to escape, he added.
“The lifeless body of Father Isaac was recovered while Father Collins was rushed to the hospital for treatment.”
Hours later, in a separate attack, bandits invaded a Christian home in Dan Tsauni village in the Kankara sidtrict of Katsina state, they kidnapped five people as they were preparing for Sunday mass at a nearby church.
Gambo Isa, the state’s police spokesman told AFP, “The terrorists seized five people from the house, shot a priest in the hand and fled with the five hostages,”
The priest was taken to hospital for treatment, Isa said.
In December 2020, heavily armed bandits kidnapped more than 300 schoolboys from a boarding secondary school in Kankara and herded them to neighboring Zamfara state.
The boys were released a week later after talks with government officials.
Although the criminal gangs are largely motivated by financial gains from ransom payments, some have forged ties with jihadists from northeast Nigeria where they are waging a 14-year old insurgency to establish a Caliphate.
