Boko Haram kidnaps Nigerian priest amidst mounting Christian persecution

A Nigerian Catholic priest, along with other travellers has been abducted on 1 June by Boko Haram terrorists within Borno state in northeast Nigeria, as reported by Africanews.

Bishop John Bogna Bakeni has told the Associated Press that Rev. Alphonsus Afina was ambushed by armed men at a military checkpoint near the town of Gwozo, which is located closely to the Cameroon border. Bishop Bakeni had briefly spoke with the kidnapped priest on the phone, and recounts that a powerful rocket-propelled grenade had hit Afina’s convoy, leading to the death of one individual and injuring others.

The papal charity, Aid to the Church in Need has alleged Afina to be the 15th religious person to be kidnapped in Nigeria this year.

Africanews/ Maghrebi