The body of Very Reverend Father Isaac Achi was laid to rest on Friday in a funeral ceremony attended by about 500 priests, and religious and political leaders from across Nigeria and beyond.
Rev Fr. Achi of St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Kafin Koro in Paikoro local government area of Niger state was gruesomely burnt to death by suspected
terrorists who set his residence on fire when they could not gain access to the building on Sunday.
His assistant, Father Collins was shot while he tried to escape.
Fr. Achi's burial mass was officiated by the Catholic Bishop of Minna Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Martins Igwemezie Uzoukwu, assisted by the Auxiliary Bishop of Minna Diocese, Most. Rev. Dr. Sylvester Luka Gopper, The sunonline reports.
Niger state government delegation to the funeral ceremony included the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Kesto, the Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Senator Sani Musa, and the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, Alhaji Mohammed Umar Bago.
Delivering the homily, Very Rev. Father Samuel Gwimi of the Catholic Institute of Africa, Port Harcourt said although how Rev. Achi was murdered was painful for the Catholic community, it is not enough to weaken their trust in God.
“His death left so many questions in our minds and someone will be tempted to ask, where is God? But we will continue to trust in God and this question can be answered in our Christian faith.
“This is where we can find comfort in the death of the Late Rev. Achi. We know that in the eyes of God, his death was never an accident. The hour has come. As Christians, we must keep our faith no matter the challenges".
“Something must take human life.
The death of Rev. Father Achi will never be in vain," said Rev Fr. Gwimi.
"I can still remember when I was called in the early hours of Sunday and was told that the Parish house in Kafin-koro was on fire and Father Achi was inside and there was no water to put off the fire after those who did the evil had gone.
”When I was later called back, I got the shocking news that the body of our dear Father had been removed from the house and was being taken to Minna. I was rendered speechless as it was a painful experience to be associated with someone we love.
"Father Achi has touched every one of us in one way or the other. His generosity to individuals and groups cannot be quantified, and that is why his death is painful to us all. The separation from him is painful because of the touch and impact he has had in our lives, ” Gwimi said.
Speaking on the security situation in the country, Fr. Gwimi said that the government appears to have lost hope in ending banditry in the country just as Nigerian citizens have lost confidence in the ability of the government to protect their lives and properties.
He said the protection of life and property, however, remains the main responsibility of leaders at all levels of government and urged politicians aspiring to leadership positions in the upcoming 2023 election to make security their priority.
According to Fr. Gwimi, “if you know that you can not protect the people, don’t seek the votes. God will ask you as a leader if you failed in your responsibility to protect the people because that is the ultimate of governance”.
The Chief mourner, Most Rev. Dr. Martin Igwemezie Uzoukwu, Catholic Bishop of Minna Diocese said that Nigeria is becoming the most dangerous country for Christians to live in, as many Christians continue to be targets of violence and killings by gunmen in the country.
He called on the government and security agencies to investigate the murder of Very Rev. Fr. Isaac Azekpili Achi and bring the culprits to justice.
"The government must guarantee the security of the people it governs. So many Christians have been targets of attacks and we must all be vigilant,” said the Minna Catholic diocesan Bishop.
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger state chapter, Most Reverend Bulus Dauda Yohanna described Fr. Achi as one who was very generous to everyone and always suggested solutions to problems.
Speaking shortly after attending the burial ceremony, Niger state Deputy Governor Alhaji Ahmed Kesto disclosed that the state government has set up a committee to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Reacting, Senator Sani Musa who hails from the same local government area as the late Rev. Achi, described the rising insecurity in Niger state and his constituency in particular as very troubling.
He noted that the existing security system in Nigeria no longer works and, therefore, needs to be overhauled, adding that life has become miserable for residents of communities under his constituency which has been under siege by bandits and other criminal elements.
The late Rev. Father Achi's mother and several members of his family attended the funeral.
Reverend Father Isaac Achi was the Coordinator of CAN in the Paikoro local government area of Niger State and the Dean and Parish Priest of St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church Kaffin-Koro in Minna Diocese.
Terrorism. Human Rights. Religion.
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