Nigerian Catholic Parish Attacked, Parish Priest Killed, Assistant “in critical condition”

The Chancellor of Minna Diocese has made “a call to pray for” the Nigerian Diocese.

Credit: Courtesy Photo

In his letter addressed to the Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Fr. Amanchukwu Emeka G. provides some updates about the situation of Fr. Omeh, saying, he “sustained some gunshot wounds but he is responding to treatment”.

“The Parish house was burnt to the ground,” Fr. Emeka says in his one-page message to Fr. Zechariah N. Samjuni of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN).

He adds, “Please pray for healing mercy from God for Fr. Collins, pray for Minna diocese, while further burial arrangement will be communicated in due course.”

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Sahara Reporters, has quoted the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, as saying, "The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command CP Ogundele Ayodeji had dispatched a reinforcement team to the area and effort is ongoing to apprehend the assailants as investigation into the unfortunate attack has commenced."

According to Nigeria’s Daily Post, the Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Sani Bello Abubakar, has described the attack on Sts. Peter and Paul Kaffin Koro Catholic Parish and killing of Fr. Achi as “ungodly and inhumane”.

“This is a sad moment, for a priest to be killed in such a manner means that we are not all safe, these terrorists have lost it, and drastic action is needed to end this ongoing carnage,” Governor Bello who has reportedly directed the local security agencies to pursue the attackers is quoted as saying.

Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla is ACI Africa’s founding Editor-in-Chief. He was formed in the Congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans), and later incardinated in Rumbek Diocese, South Sudan. He has a PhD in Media Studies from Daystar University in Kenya, and a Master’s degree in Organizational Communication from Marist College, New York, USA.