Today, Sunday, the Nigerian police announced that a Catholic priest was burned to death, two other priests were shot, and 5 people were kidnapped, in two separate incidents.

Which raises security concerns ahead of next month's elections.

Early in the morning, gunmen set fire to the house of the priest, Isaac Achi, in the village of Kavin-Kuru, in the state of Niger (northwest), and burned him alive, after they were unable to break into the house.

"Unfortunately, the bandits (...) set fire to the house, and the aforementioned priest burned to death," said Wasiu Biodun, a police spokesman in Niger state.

He added that the "bandits" shot another priest, Collins, and he was wounded when he tried to escape, then he was taken to hospital for treatment.

In another attack that took place hours later, "bandits" stormed the home of a Christian family in Dan Tsauni village in Kankara district of Katsina state, and kidnapped 5 people who were preparing for Sunday services in a nearby church.

State police spokesman Gambo Issa said that the "terrorists" kidnapped 5 people from the house, shot a priest who was wounded in the hand and then fled with the five hostages.

The motive behind the attacks is not yet clear, but priests have been targeted in the past by gunmen in the northern regions, and kidnappers usually seek the ransom for financial gain.

And the deterioration of security in Nigeria (the largest African country in terms of population) is a major problem for the country, which will witness general elections on February 25 to elect a new president.