Abuja: A young Nigerian priest renowned for his compassionate work with victims of the violent Islamist insurgency Boko Haram has been kidnapped by armed extremists. Father Alphonsus Afina was abducted on the night of Sunday, June 1, while returning to Maiduguri after celebrating Mass near the town of Gwoza, local reports confirm. The kidnappers later contacted the Diocese of Maiduguri, providing evidence that Fr. Afina remains alive.

The region around Gwoza has grown increasingly perilous due to the activities of two Boko Haram offshoot factions — Jamaat Ahlis Sunna Liddawati Wal-Jihad (JAS) and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Both groups continue to terrorize local communities, heightening insecurity. Fr. Afina, who holds a degree in psychology and counseling, founded a trauma support center dedicated to helping survivors of Boko Haram’s brutal attacks in the area.

The priest’s kidnapping has also resonated internationally, with the Diocese of Fairbanks in the United States highlighting the case. Fr. Afina previously served in remote villages on Alaska’s Seward Peninsula from 2017 to 2024. During this time, he earned his psychology and counseling degree, motivated by a vision to return to Nigeria and establish vital trauma care for those affected by insurgency violence.

In solidarity, a Mass was offered yesterday in the United States, praying for his safe release. The Diocese of Maiduguri has appealed to the faithful worldwide to join in prayer and support for Fr. Afina’s freedom and safety amid this distressing ordeal.