Rev. Alphonsus Afina, a Nigerian Catholic priest who previously served in the United States, was kidnapped by Boko Haram on June 1 near Gwoza, close to the Cameroon border, according to Bishop John Bogna Bakeni of Maiduguri.

Afina was traveling from Mubi to Maiduguri for a workshop when his convoy was ambushed by armed men while waiting at a military checkpoint. A rocket-propelled grenade struck one of the vehicles, killing one person and injuring others.

While Afina was abducted, other travelers were also taken, though the exact number remains unclear. Bishop Bakeni spoke with Afina a day after the abduction, stating that the priest was exhausted but in good spirits.

Nigeria continues to struggle with rising violence in its northern and central regions, where Boko Haram and other armed groups frequently kidnap civilians for ransom. Religious figures have increasingly become targets, with a Catholic priest killed in March under similar circumstances.

Afina previously served in Alaska from 2017 to 2024 before returning to Nigeria to work with the Justice, Development, and Peace Commission. His abduction has sparked concern among Catholic communities, with Rev. Robert Fath of Fairbanks confirming that Boko Haram contacted him directly to confirm they were holding Afina.

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