The Catholic Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese, John Bakeni, has praised the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Army for the successful rescue of Reverend Father Alphonsus Afina, who was abducted by Boko Haram insurgents on June 1. Father Afina was kidnapped in Gwoza, Borno State, drawing international concern due to his previous service as a priest in Alaska from September 2017 to 2024. He was taken along with an unspecified number of fellow travelers on the Liman Kara-Gwoza road in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
On Monday, DSS operatives in Borno, with support from the Nigerian Army, rescued Father Afina and 10 women. All victims were recovered safely, and no ransom was paid, according to officials.
Bishop Bakeni, who also serves as chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno, commended the security personnel for their courage and precision in the rescue operation. He noted that the global Catholic community was greatly relieved and overjoyed by Father Afina’s safe return after nearly two months in captivity.
He added that the priest was en route from Mubi, Adamawa State, to Maiduguri when insurgents ambushed his convoy at a military checkpoint. A rocket-propelled grenade reportedly struck one of the vehicles, resulting in the death of one passenger.
In a separate operation, DSS officers in Zamfara State, with military backing, also freed 32 kidnapped individuals in the Shinkafi Local Government Area. Security sources revealed that the victims, 27 women and five young boys, had spent between two to four months in captivity. They have since been handed over to the state government for medical care and official processing.