…As 32 others rescued in Zamfara
The Catholic Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese, John Bakeni, has lauded the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Army for the successful rescue of Reverend Father Alphonsus Afina, who was kidnapped on June 1, by Boko Haram insurgents.
Rev Fr. Afina’s kidnap in Gworza, Borno State, had grabbed global headlines, as he had served as a priest in Alaska from September 2017 through 2024.
Kidnapped alongside the priest were, at the time, an unspecified number of fellow travelers on the Liman Kara- Gwoza road in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
Rev. Fr. Afina and 10 women were on Monday rescued by DSS operatives in the State with support by the troops of the Nigerian Army.
It was gathered that no ransom was paid for the rescued victims.
Following the development, Bishop 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 for the rescue of the 11 persons unhurt.
Bishop Bakeni said; “The Catholic community worldwide was excited at news that Father Afina was rescued after nearly two months in the hands of insurgents.
“Father Afina was travelling from Mubi, 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,” he said.
In a related development, DSS officers in Zamfara State, also with support from troops of the Nigerian Army, last week rescued 32 kidnap victims in Shinkafi Local Government Area of the state.
Forefront News gathered from security sources that the rescued victims included 27 women and five young boys, who have spent between two and four months in captivity.
The rescued victims, it was further gathered have been handed over to the state government for medicare and documentation.
