By Paschal Norbert
MAIDUGURI, JUNE 11, 2025 (CISA) – A Catholic priest known for his pastoral work in both Nigeria and the United States is among several people abducted by Boko Haram extremists in northeastern Nigeria’s Borno State, prompting an outpouring of prayer and concern from Church leaders across the globe.
Fr Alphonsus Afina, who had recently returned to Nigeria after six years of pastoral ministry in the Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks, Alaska-USA, was kidnapped on Sunday, June 1, near the town of Gwoza, an area long vulnerable to jihadist attacks. The abduction occurred as the priest was traveling with colleagues from the Justice, Development, and Peace Commission (JDPC) from Mubi to Maiduguri for a workshop.
“There were many fatalities and abductions. One member of the JDPC was shot dead,” confirmed Bishop John Bogna Bakeni, Auxiliary Bishop of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
“Fr Alphonsus was abducted along with others, and one of the staff of the JDPC was able to escape to safety,” he said, explaining that the convoy was reportedly caught in a crossfire while awaiting clearance at a military checkpoint.
The attackers are believed to be members of Boko Haram – Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a violent splinter faction that continues to terrorize communities across northeastern Nigeria. Despite ongoing military efforts, the group remains lethal and unpredictable, especially in border regions like Gwoza.
Bishop Bakeni, in a message sent to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), confirmed that he has been in contact with the abductors and received proof that Fr Alphonsus is alive. He expressed hope that negotiations could lead to the priest’s safe return.
This incident marks the 15th abduction of a Catholic priest or religious in Nigeria in 2025 alone. The rise in targeted kidnappings has alarmed the Catholic Church, with some priests killed in captivity while others were later released. The abduction of clergy is increasingly seen as both a strategic and symbolic attack on the Church’s presence in grassroots peacebuilding and humanitarian work in volatile regions.
Fr Alphonsus had been a beloved figure in Alaska’s Diocese of Fairbanks, where he served before returning to Nigeria. Bishop Steven J. Maekawa, O.P., the ordinary of Fairbanks, expressed both sorrow and spiritual resolve in a letter to his diocese, urging parishioners to intercede for the kidnapped priest.
“Fr. Alphonsus and all who are in captivity need as many people as possible praying for them and for their captors,” Bishop Maekawa wrote, urging “we are a powerful people. Much like the men who make a hole in the roof to lower their friend through it to bring him to Jesus, we are able to bring those in need to our Lord Jesus with our prayers. Without the Lord we can do nothing. Great things can be accomplished by appealing to the love of God.”
During a special Mass held for Fr Afina, Bishop Maekawa called for Eucharistic Holy Hours and acts of penance throughout the Diocese of Fairbanks.
“Fr Alphonsus and all who are in captivity need as many people as possible praying for them and for their captors. I ask that you remember them in the General Intercessions on Sunday and that each community offer a Eucharistic Holy Hour. I encourage the faithful to additional acts of penance for the strength and safety of our brother, Fr Alphonsus,” he urged, ahead of Pentecost Sunday.
Boko Haram has waged a bloody insurgency in Nigeria since 2009, claiming tens of thousands of lives and displacing millions. While diminished in power since its peak, the group and its ISWAP offshoot continue to wreak havoc, especially in the northeastern states.
