Breaking: Protest in Niger Community Where Bandits Burnt Catholic Priest, One Dead

By Laleye Dipo in Minna

One person has been killed while two others were injured when police reportedly shot into a crowd protesting in Kaffinkoro town in the Paikoro local government area of Niger state on Tuesday morning.

It was learnt that the police station in the town has also been burnt by protesters.

Kaffinkoro town is where a Catholic Clergyman Reverend Isaac Achi was burnt to death by unknown bandits while his assistant Reverend Collins was shot and had been hospitalised.

The latest incident occurred almost 72 hours after the murder of Reverend Achi.

THISDAY learnt that trouble started when some women and youth in the town assembled at the burnt vicarage of the Catholic Diocese to offer prayers for the repose of the soul of the departed clergyman and against those who have been terrorising the town and for God to expose the perpetrators.

During the prayers, it was gathered that a detachment of policemen from Kafin-koro police division stormed the place to offer protection for the praying congregation but were asked to leave since they could not protect the clergyman and the community from the assault by gunmen.

When the policemen did not leave, the crowd reportedly started throwing all available objects including satchet water at them forcing the security men to retreat and return to their station.

After the prayers, the women and the youths embarked on a protest around the town chanting anti police songs. It was at this stage that the police forcefully dispersed the protesters resulting in one youth being hit by bullet and died instantly while two others hit were injured.

The development angered the protesters resulting in the police station being set ablaze.

Efforts to get police confirmation of the incident was abortive as the Police Commissioner and heads of other security agencies were said to be holding “emergency security meeting on the issue” at the state police headquarters.