Nigerian security forces have rescued Reverend Father Alphonsus Afina and 32 other kidnap victims in separate coordinated operations across Borno and Zamfara States.
Fr. Afina, a Catholic priest and former missionary in Anchorage, Alaska, was abducted on June 1, 2025, while traveling along the Liman Kara–Gwoza Road in Borno’s Gwoza Local Government Area. He was reportedly ambushed by insurgents near a military checkpoint while en route from Mubi, Adamawa State, to Maiduguri. One passenger was killed during the attack.
The priest was freed on Monday along with ten women during a joint rescue operation conducted by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Army. According to security analyst Zagazola, no ransom was paid for the release.
The Catholic Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese, Most Rev. John Bakeni, confirmed the rescue and expressed gratitude to the security forces. He described the operation as a significant relief for the Church and the affected families, urging continuous cooperation between security agencies and local communities to tackle insurgency.
In a separate mission in Zamfara State, security operatives rescued 32 victims, including 27 women and five boys, from forest camps in the Shinkafi axis. Some had been held captive for up to four months. The victims were handed over to the Zamfara State Government for medical care and further processing.
