DSS, Army Rescue Catholic Priest, 42 Others From Boko Haram

DSS, Army Rescue Catholic Priest, 42 Others From Boko Haram

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), in collaboration with Nigerian Army troops, have successfully rescued Reverend Father Alphonsus Afina and 42 other kidnap victims from Boko Haram captivity.

Rev. Fr. Afina, along with 10 women, was freed on Monday during a coordinated operation in Borno State.

The Catholic priest’s abduction on June 1 along the Liman Kara–Gwoza Road had drawn international attention, particularly due to his prior service in Alaska, United States, from 2017 to 2024.

The priest and several unidentified co-travelers were kidnapped in Gwoza Local Government Area, sparking widespread concern across religious and diplomatic circles.

The Catholic Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese, John Bakeni, who doubles as the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno State, commended the gallantry and intelligence of the DSS operatives who rescued the 11 persons unhurt without paying ransom.

According to the Bishop, the Catholic community worldwide was excited at news that Father Afina had regained freedom after nearly two months in the dungeon of terrorists.

The Bishop explained that Father Afina was travelling from Mubi in Adamawa State to Maiduguri, when his vehicle was ambushed at a military checkpoint after a rocket-propelled grenade struck one of the vehicles in his convoy, killing one occupant.

Meanwhile, DSS officers in Zamfara State, also with support from troops of the Nigerian Army, last week rescued 32 kidnap victims in Shinkafi LGA of the state.

Security sources disclosed that the rescued victims included 27 women and five young boys, who have spent between two and four months in captivity.

“They have been handed over to the state government for medicare and documentation,” the source added.