₦airaland Forum

The Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Army have successfully rescued a Catholic priest, Reverend Father Alphonsus Afina who was abducted by Boko Haram insurgents.

Rev. Fr. Afina, who served in the Archdiocese of Anchorage in Alaska, U.S., from 2017 until 2024, was abducted on June 1, 2025, while traveling along the Liman Kara–Gwoza Road in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

The priest, alongside 10 women, was rescued on Monday, July 21 during a coordinated security operation by DSS operatives in Borno, with tactical support from troops of the Nigerian Army. No ransom was paid for the release of the captives.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Catholic Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese, Most Rev. John Bakeni, hailed the professionalism, gallantry, and intelligence-led approach of the DSS and military forces involved in the operation.

Bakeni, who also serves as Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno State, described the rescue as “a moment of profound relief and joy for the Church and all lovers of peace and justice.”

“The news of Fr. Afina’s rescue after nearly two months in captivity brought immense joy to the Catholic community, both in Nigeria and abroad,” Bakeni said. He revealed that Fr. Afina was on his way from Mubi in Adamawa State to Maiduguri when insurgents ambushed his convoy near a military checkpoint,” he said.

“The attackers reportedly launched a rocket-propelled grenade at one of the vehicles, killing one passenger and abducting others.”

The bishop called for continued collaboration between security agencies and communities to defeat insurgency and other threats to national peace.

Meanwhile, the DSS in Zamfara State, in a similar joint operation with Nigerian Army troops, rescued 32 kidnap victims from the Shinkafi axis of the state.

Security sources Zagazola Makama that the victims, comprising 27 women and five boys, had spent between two and four months in captivity.

The victims were reportedly rescued from makeshift camps hidden in forested areas and were later handed over to the Zamfara State Government for medical attention and documentation.

The dual rescue operations reflect growing inter-agency cooperation in Nigeria’s ongoing war against terrorism and armed banditry.

Source: https://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2025/7/army-and-dss-rescue-catholic-priest-abducted-by-boko-haram-terrorists-in-borno-2.html

My Brother, This One Really Shock Me 😭

Why Rev Father In Catholic Church

OK but hope they haven't paid money thou, this country and insecurity mehn

Kudos to the Army . No be small feat be this.
Where are The Lord's Chosen members to see how rescue is actually done

Rev. Fr. Afina, who served in the Archdiocese of Anchorage in Alaska, U.S., from 2017 until 2024,

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Above is the reason why they decided to work effectively. Diplomatic pressure can work wonders. Them dey fear, when VISA applications are required, denial is painful. Who no wan travel go America.

Where's the dead bodies of the kidnappers and boko haram members

Nigerian army r really trying their best in the fight of insurgency in the North

That's the legacy of Buhari and Shettima. Tinubu and the moronic APC supporters rewarded Shettima with Vice Presidential seat for a legacy of terrorism
And they re-name a whole university to Buhari.
Nigeria is injustice to the cause of nature and divinity. No surprise the nation is in comatose

No ransom was paid. Try read before rushing to comment

columbus007:
OK but hope they haven't paid money thou, this country and insecurity mehn

No ransom was pain ...the joint task force was armed with credible information... but yet not one kidnapper was captured or killed. What does that tell us about their competence?

esnbrutality:
Rev. Fr. Afina, who served in the Archdiocese of Anchorage in Alaska, U.S., from 2017 until 2024,

---------

Above is the reason why they decided to work effectively. Diplomatic pressure can work wonders. Them dey fear, when VISA applications are required, denial is painful. Who no wan travel go America.

Americans na baddos, they know how to put everybody in line.

The world would have been such a beautiful place without those....., pisful religion. Happy home coming priest

My brother , the more you see , the less you will understand.
The same people that are linked to Shetima and Buhari.
I wonder.

FreeSpirited:
Legacy of Buhari and Shettima
Yet they name a whole university Buhari.
Nigeria is injustice to the cause of nature and divinity

Rescued Without Ransome ?
Uhfififofoifofiififii

This is a wonderful feat made by our gallant security personnels.

Banditry is one of the legacy left behind by late President Buhari. From Zamfara to Katsina to Gombe to Niger to Nasarawa

Why did he come back to Nigeria after serving in America, come even go to a volatile state like adamawa and borno, thank God he was rescued.

This is good news coming from the unreactive security agencies we have in this county

Make dem talk true oooo.......was the rescue based on negotiations(ransom) or not?. .

So of what use is the military check point if he was kidnapped around one

Abi na insider job

you can't blame the guy , because there have been several cases where security agencies claimed rescue with no ranom paid but the captives abii rescuees will later debunk and say otherwise, the family of sisters abducted alongside their dad in abuja last year comes to mind

Tinubumustgo:
No ransom was paid. Try read before rushing to comment