The Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks says its former priest, the Rev. Alphonsus Afina, is still missing after being kidnapped by the Boko Haram terrorist group last month. He was traveling with two others in the Gwoza region of Nigeria at the time of the kidnapping.
Father Robert Fath, vocation director of the Diocese of Fairbanks, served alongside Afina for six years. He said information on Afina remains scarce.
“What we put out on Facebook the other day was all the information that we have. He’s still in captivity. He’s recovering,” Fath said.
Afina was given a chance to contact his home diocese in Maiduguri, Nigeria last week. Afina reported the terrorists tied him up with ropes, causing injuries to his legs which are starting to heal.
Fath said Boko Haram has not made any demands or conditions for Afina’s release.
“The Boko Haram doesn’t operate like that. As far as we know, no demands have been made. He’s just simply been abducted because he’s a Catholic priest,” Fath said.
Afina returned to his home country of Nigeria in April last year. He was kidnapped while working for a trauma center he helped establish for victims of Boko Haram. Although the exact circumstances of the kidnapping remain unclear, Fath believes the motive was religious rather than personal.
“It was him and three other individuals who I believe were laymen that were traveling with him. Their primary focus is terrorizing Christians, and I think his work with the trauma center was secondary to their motives,” Fath said.
The Diocese of Maiduguri is working with local authorities, but it's unclear what efforts are underway to secure Afina’s release.
“The local diocese there and in Nigeria is working with the government, but what that looks like? I have no clue,” Fath said.
In the meantime, Fath encouraged continued prayer and awareness for Afina and others facing religious persecution.
“The fact that he’s been able to contact his home diocese for the second time, I think, is promising. Over here, really the only thing that we can do is pray for him and continue to pray for everyone who’s suffering because of their Christian faith. He’s not the only captive,” Fath said.
The Diocese of Fairbanks continues to receive messages from parishioners and community members seeking updates and expressing concern for Afina's safety.
The story has brought the distant violence of Nigeria’s religious conflicts closer to home for many in Alaska. While serving at the Diocese of Fairbanks, Afina traveled throughout western Alaska including stops in Nome, Kotzebue, Little Diomede, Teller, Saint Michael, Stebbins and Unalakleet.
“This is one of those incidents that you know, we as Americans, we read about, and we have sort of an academic familiarity with, but now it’s hit closer to home because of somebody that we know,” Fath said.
The diocese will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.
