Catholic priest abducted by Boko Haram

Reverend Alphonsus Afina, a Nigerian Catholic priest who recently returned from missionary work in Alaska, was abducted by suspected Boko Haram militants on June 1 in Gwoza, Borno State. The abduction occurred during an ambush on his convoy, resulting in the death of one passenger and injuries to several others.

According to a statement from the Diocese of Maiduguri, Reverend Afina was traveling with colleagues for a pastoral outreach when insurgents struck near a military checkpoint along the Gwoza–Pulka road. Eyewitnesses report that the attackers outmaneuvered security forces, raising fresh concerns about the porous nature of military defenses in Nigeria’s conflict-prone Northeast.

“We are devastated,” said Bishop John Bogna Bakeni. “Fr. Afina dedicated his life to service, and his abduction highlights the growing threats religious leaders face in this region. We call for his immediate and safe release.”

This incident is the latest in a disturbing trend of attacks targeting Christian clergy and humanitarian workers in the Northeast. Advocacy groups estimate that more than 20 priests and pastors have been kidnapped or killed by insurgents in the last 24 months alone—often with little to no accountability.

Local sources told reporters that the ambush occurred despite the presence of multiple checkpoints between Pulka and Gwoza, some manned by the Nigerian Army and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF). Community leaders and church officials are now questioning how such a brazen attack could have taken place in such a heavily monitored area.

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“The government must admit there is a gap in intelligence sharing and security coordination,” said Usman Ali, a community vigilante coordinator in Borno. “Our people are tired of empty promises.”

The Nigerian military has yet to issue an official statement, but a spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, who spoke under anonymity, confirmed that a rescue operation was underway. “We are deploying resources to locate and recover Reverend Afina. This is a priority,” the source said.

However, critics argue that past rescue missions have been slow and reactive, leaving families and communities in anguish for weeks or months. Human rights organizations are urging the government to adopt more proactive protection strategies for faith-based workers, particularly in volatile regions.

Reverend Afina’s abduction underscores the broader insecurity that continues to plague Borno State and its environs despite repeated government claims of progress in the war against terror. Religious leaders are increasingly becoming targets—not only for their symbolic significance but also for their active role in local peacebuilding and humanitarian efforts.

As the Catholic Church and other religious organizations pray for Fr. Afina’s safe return, Nigerians are once again demanding more effective action from the government to end the cycle of violence and impunity.