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Emotions run deep as remains of Fr. Isaac Achi, Catholic Priest burnt to death by terrorists in Niger, are buried

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Tears flowed freely when the remains of Very Reverend Father Isaac Achi, who was burnt to death by terrorists in Kafin-koro last Sunday, were buried on Friday in the St Michael Catholic Cemetery in Bosso, Niger State.

Rev. Father Achi, who was the Priest of St. Peters and Paul Catholic Church in Kafin-koro in Paikoro local government area of Niger, was killed when terrorists razed the parish house after they were unable to access the house.

His Assistant, Father Collins, was shot while he was trying to escape.

Reverend Father Achi was the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Coordinator of Paikoro local government area of Niger State and the Dean and Parish Priest of St. Peters and Paul Catholic Church Kaffin-Koro in Minna Diocese.

Giving a reflection during the funeral service, the Dean of the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Catholic University, Port Harcourt, Very Revered Father Samuel Gwimi, lamented the gruesome way Revered Achi was killed saying that he and other Priests are still in shock over the death.

“I can still remember when I was called in the early hours of Sunday and 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,” he said.

Gwimi said that they were still looking for answers and explanations as to why he was killed.

He stated that they had also consoled themselves in the Lord knowing the slain Priest was resting in the bosom of God.

He called on other Priests and Christians to immortalise Rev. Achi by exhibiting his character of generosity and seeker of truth and peace.

“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 appealed to political leaders and security agents to be proactive about security and prevent future occurrences of what happened to Father Achi.

He said that Father Achi fought a good fight of faith and finished the race and is already sitting peacefully with God.

The Bishop of Minna, Bishop Martin Igwemezie Uzoukwu, described Father Achi as a courageous and peace-loving man who stood for peace and justice saying that he will be greatly missed by all.

He called on the government to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.

The Niger state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Reverend Bulus Dauda Yohanna, described the slain Priest as one who always proffers solutions to problems and was very generous to everyone.

A service of songs was held on Thursday evening at the St. Michael Catholic Church in Minna where intercessory prayers were held for the repose of the soul of the slain Priest.

The mother of Fr. Isaac Achi attended the funeral with several family members.

About 500 priests and religious leaders came from within and outside Nigeria to attend the service of songs and the funeral.

There was also a crowd inside and outside the premises of the church who waited to bid farewell to the late Priest as the church could not contain several people.

As the body of the slain priest was being carried from the church to the cemetery within the church premises, women outside in different uniforms wailed. (TheNiche)

Tags: Niger State, women, Nigeria, Catholic Church, government, terrorists

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Speaker Tunis Pledges Support For ECOFEPA

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By Gloria Ikibah

Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Dr. Sidie Mohammed Tunis, has pledged his unflinching support for the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association Network ECOFEPA in its attempts to increase participation for self-development in politics and entrepreneurship.

Speaker Tunis who stated this at the formal opening of ECOFEPA Women and Youth Leadership symposium, on the sidelines of the Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Guinea Bissau, with the theme: Unleashing the potentials of Women and Youth in Politics and Entrepreneurship; asserted that the meeting epitomizes the action stage for women’s involvement in decision-making bodies.

He also commended ECOFEPA for always beaming their search light on issues that affect women and youth in the ECOWAS Sub-region and for firmly reinforcing the need to mentor the next generation of decision makers to bridge existing gaps and bestow sound political and decision-making legacies to them, reaffirming that until they as Members of Parliament replicate ourselves in the younger generation in multiple dimensions to deliver a democratic system that is anchored on good governance and societal growth and development, they cannot credit themselves for success.

Dr. Tunis acknowledged that the event amplifies ECOFEPA’s deliberate resolve to consistently pursue the dreams of its founding Members and recommend for members of Parliament to track generational transfer of knowledge, skills and all it takes to tackle the challenges of the future ahead.

In her address, the 2nd Vice President of ECOFEPA, Madam Gabriella Fernandes, commended the ECOWAS Commission for its outstanding support in enhancing the activities of the association to achieve its goals for women’s integration and empowerment in politics.

She said that the resources mobilized by the ECOWAS Commission will allow the association to host its upcoming symposium in Togo March 2023.

Hon. Fernandes reiterated that the symposium will spark the beginning of efforts to launch their projects and synchronize activities in the areas of leadership and entrepreneurship, which have the propensity to boomerang and catapult women’s advancement into decision-making in the ECOWAS region.

Earlier, the Youth Representative for the West Africa Youth Assembly, Mamadu Djalo, said everyone is aware of the social pressure and barriers that women and youth face daily, in trying to climb up to the political power, and employed men in Africa who control the political powers, to ensure that such power is balanced.

According to Djalo, Women and youth are very isolated for too long, and that there is need for the men to work together with both youth and Women to fill the sense of belonging, as the deliberation cannot be realistic without the participation of the youth and women.

She therefore called for the creation of a youth parliament in order to give them a voice.

Tags: women, ECOWAS, Politics, Africa, President, growth

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Again, one injured as container crushes bus in Oshodi

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By Francesca Iwambe

A 20-ft container crushed a commercial bus in the Oshodi area of Lagos State on Wednesday afternoon, injuring a commercial bus driver.

It was gathered that this is the latest container-related accident experienced in the state in the space of three days.

Eye witnessed confirmed that Wednesday’s accident at Oshodi was caused by a brake failure.

While the passengers in the bus were said to have escaped without an injury, the same could not be said of the bus driver whose degree of injury could not be ascertained as of press time.

Eight people were crushed to death by a 20-ft container that fell off a truck in the Ojuelegba area of Lagos on Sunday.

This is coming barely 24 hours after the Ojuelegba tragedy, a 40-ft container fell off another truck in the Dopemu area of the state on Monday, causing traffic on the road.