Ven. Edwin Achi Murdered in Captivity as Nigeria Declares War on Terror
Armed bandits have reportedly killed Venerable Edwin Achi, a senior priest of the Anglican Communion, Diocese of Kaduna, after holding him in captivity for about a month. He was abducted alongside his wife, Mrs. Sarah Achi, and their daughter and was confirmed dead in the kidnappers’ custody. Venerable Achi hailed from Umuaja, in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, but had been serving in Kaduna before his abduction.
Church sources and family contacts say the kidnappers had demanded a huge ransom and kept the priest under harsh conditions before his murder. His wife and daughter are still believed to be in captivity at the time of this report, with urgent appeals ongoing for their safe release.
The Diocese of Kaduna described his death as a “painful loss” to the church and the Christian community, praising his long years of faithful service, humility and devotion.
A Murder That Exposes the Depth of Nigeria’s Terror Crisis
Venerable Achi’s killing comes at a time when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency on terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria, in response to the escalating wave of banditry, kidnappings and targeted attacks on civilians and clergy.
Under the new security measures, the President has:
Directed the DSS and trained forest guards to comb forests nationwide, identify terrorist and bandit hideouts, and smoke the criminals out of their enclaves.
Approved the recruitment of 50,000 additional security personnel, including tens of thousands for the police and armed forces, to boost manpower and sustain operations against terror cells and kidnapping syndicates.
Despite these moves, the murder of Venerable Achi underlines how entrenched and emboldened these armed groups have become, especially in states like Kaduna that have been epicentres of kidnappings and rural terror attacks.
The Vatican’s Concern: Pope Speaks Against Killing of Christians in Nigeria
The killing of Christian clergy in Nigeria has repeatedly drawn international concern. Over the years, the Pope has spoken publicly against the killing of Christians in Nigeria, condemning attacks on priests, worshippers and church communities and calling for protection of the vulnerable and an end to religiously-framed violence.
Venerable Achi’s death adds to a tragic list of clergy killed or abducted in recent years, reinforcing fears that churches and Christian communities remain soft targets for terrorists and bandits across multiple regions.
A Test of Political Will
With the emergency declaration, the deployment order to DSS and forest guards, and the plan to increase security personnel by 50,000, the Tinubu administration has moved—at least on paper—from rhetoric to action.
But this killing throws up hard questions:
Will the new measures be pushed with the speed and intensity needed to make kidnappers and bandits fear the state again?
Will there be intelligence-driven rescue operations for remaining hostages, including Mrs. Sarah Achi and her daughter?
Will security agencies finally dismantle the networks behind these attacks rather than merely reacting after blood has already been shed?
For many Nigerians, especially in the Christian community, Venerable Achi’s death is not just another statistic. It is a direct challenge to a government that has now declared war on terror:
The National Patriots.
Headlinenews.news Special Investigative Report.
