DSS and Nigerian Army Rescue Catholic Priest and Dozens of Hostages from Boko Haram and Bandits

The Department of State Services (DSS), in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, has successfully rescued Reverend Father Alphonsus Afina, a Catholic priest abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State.

Father Afina, who ministered in the Archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska, from 2017 to 2024, was kidnapped on June 1, 2025, while traveling on the Liman Kara–Gwoza Road in Gwoza Local Government Area. He was rescued on Monday, July 21, along with ten women, during a joint intelligence-led operation by DSS agents with support from Army troops. Authorities confirmed that no ransom was paid.

The Catholic Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese, Most Rev. John Bakeni, commended the security forces for their professionalism and bravery. He described the rescue as “a moment of profound relief and joy” for the Church and peace advocates worldwide.

Bakeni, who also chairs the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno, said the abduction occurred when insurgents ambushed Father Afina’s convoy near a military checkpoint as he traveled from Mubi, Adamawa State, to Maiduguri. The attackers fired a rocket-propelled grenade at one of the vehicles, killing a passenger and abducting the others.

He urged continued cooperation between communities and security agencies to combat insurgency and restore national peace.

In a related development, the DSS and Nigerian Army also rescued 32 hostages in Zamfara State’s Shinkafi area. The victims, including 27 women and five boys, had been held for between two and four months by armed bandits.

According to security sources cited by Zagazola Makama, the victims were freed from hidden camps in forested regions and later handed over to the Zamfara State Government for medical care and proper documentation.

These coordinated rescue missions highlight increased inter-agency collaboration in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and banditry.