Bandits kill Minna Catholic priest, 10 in Zamfara

• Abduct 17 in Niger

Catholic Priest of the Diocese of Minna, Rev Father John Gbakaan Yaji, has been killed by bandits in Niger State.

The priest was kidnapped alongside his brother Friday night on Lambata-Lapai Road on his way home after a meeting in Lambata before he was killed by his abductors.

In Zamfara State, gunmen also killed 10 people in an attack on Janbako, a community in the Maradun Local Government Area of the state.

The priest’s body was found on Sunday but whereabouts of his brother remain unknown.

A source at the Minna diocese confirmed Rev Fr Yaji’s abduction and killing, adding that the clergy was tortured and strangled to death.

The source said the kidnappers had also been demanding an unspecified amount as ransom for the release of the clergy’s brother.

Seventeen other persons were abducted in attacks on three communities in the Bassa/Kukoki area of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

It was learnt that the attacks took place at different times on Saturday night in Madagwa, Wongo and Marenje communities.

Five people were reportedly abducted from Wongo and Marenje communities while about seven were abducted from Madagwa.

The co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths, Sani Abubakar Yusuf Kokki confirmed the abduction, saying that the whereabouts of the victims were unknown yet.

He said that it is unfair that the locals had been left to their fate.

The state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) called for an end to banditry and killings in the state.

Reverend Matthias Echioda, the Niger State chair of CAN, said, “These attacks are unfortunate and we should not base them as religion but we should all come together to put an end to banditry. And I know God who answers prayers will deliver us from the hands of the wicked.”

In Zamfara, scores of the gunmen on motorcycles invaded a community on Sunday shooting in different directions and this left 10 people dead.

About five of the bandits were reportedly killed by local vigilantes that confronted the attackers.