By Chimezie Enyiocha

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have burnt down the parish house of Saint Raphael’s Catholic Church in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing a seminarian in the process.

An eye witness told Channels Television that the bandits in their large numbers stormed the Saint Raphael Parish at Fadan Kamantan, Kafanchan Diocese on Thursday night and set the building ablaze alongside a vehicle parked on the premises.

Sources said the late seminarian, Stephen Danlami, died from the smoke he inhaled while trying to escape from the raging fire, while other priests inside the parish house were said to have escaped.

Shortly after the incident, police authorities in the state said it had launched a manhunt for the assailants.

The spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command Manir Hassan said the bandits stormed the worship centre in droves.

According to him, while the assailants could not enter the main building, they set the house on fire alongside a motorcycle and vehicle part on the premises.

The police spokesman corroborated eyewitness accounts that the victim died due to the smoke he inhaled while trying to escape from the burning building.

Gov. Sani Condemns Seminarian’s Killing, Vows To Track Down Culprits

Bandits had on Thursday night burnt down the Saint Raphael Catholic Church parish at the Fadan Kamantan in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area, during which a seminarian was killed in the inferno.

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has condemned the killing of a Seminarian during a bandits’ at the Saint Raphael Catholic Church parish in the Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of the state 

Bandits on Thursday night burnt down the church during which the seminarian, Stephen Danlami, was killed.

While expressing anger over the attack, Governor Sani in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mohammed Shehu, vowed to track down the perpetrators of the heinous crime and ensure that they face the full wrath of the law.

The attack, the governor said, was carried out with the sole intention of igniting ethnic and religious tensions in Kaduna State and sabotaging the government’s efforts towards rebuilding trust in the communities.

The governor urged the security agencies to swiftly investigate the incident and ensure that the culprits are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

He also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and assured them of the state government’s support during this difficult time.

Governor Sani explained that his administration since inception, has taken proactive steps to restore peace in troubled communities by strengthening partnerships with federal security agencies and reinvigorating the Kaduna Vigilance Service (KADVS) through the recent recruitment and training of 7,000 personnel of the Kaduna Vigilance Service (KADVS).

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