Govt warns against youths violence after burning of police station over killing of priest in Niger

The Niger State government has cautioned against youth violence, saying the state would not allow any form of violence that would lead to destruction of government property. This was after angry youths of Kaffin-Koro in Paikoro Local Government Area, Niger State, had set ablaze a police station in protest of the killing of a Catholic priest, Rev Father Isaac Achi, of the St. Peters and Paul Catholic Church, by bandits.

The youths were said to be provoked by the slow response of the police to distress calls of people when the bandits invaded residence of the priest.

The bandits had burnt Rev Achi ablaze on Sunday morning during the attack on his residence.

The angry youths turning their provocation against the police, were said to have set ablaze cars, houses, beside the police post, injuring several persons.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Services in Niger State, Emmanuel Umar, while acknowledging the pains of the youths, noted that the state government is also pained by the killing of the priest by bandits, cautioned that nobody has the right to take laws into his or her hands for whatever reason.

Umar warned that the state government would not allow any form of violence that would lead to destruction of government property.

According to him, “Since the incident happened on Sunday, you have seen the commitment of government that is why we are calling on communities to support government in ridding the state of bandits and not to take side by vandalising government property.” He said that a security team had been dispatched to Kaffin-Koro to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, acknowledging the burning of the police station by angry youths, explained that “before the police could mobilise and get to his place to engage the assailants, they had already run away from the scene.”