Priest Released After 51 Days Captive by Boko Haram in Nigeria

Priest's Release and Ordeal

• 🕊️ Father Daniel Alphonsus Afina was released on July 21st after being held captive for 51 days by Boko Haram.
• 🤝 He was freed along with 10 women who were also held hostage by the Islamist terrorist group.
• 🙏 The release is described as a tremendous answer to prayers from supporters worldwide.

Background of Abduction

• 🎯 Father Afina was abducted on June 1, 2025, while on an aid mission delivering help to Christians displaced by Boko Haram.
• 📍 He was targeted because of his role as a partner with Christian Solidarity International (CSI) in supporting persecuted Christians.
• 🎯 Boko Haram's goal is to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria and expel Christians from the region.

Father Afina's Background and Recovery

• 🧠 The priest had taken counseling and trauma courses in the US, intending to help survivors of Boko Haram terrorism upon his return to Nigeria.
• 🏥 While mostly healthy and in high spirits, he will require some unspecified medical attention.
• 🏡 His family has requested privacy as he recovers from the ordeal.

Boko Haram and Persecution in Nigeria

• 🌍 Boko Haram is an Islamist terrorist group aiming to create an Islamic state and drive Christians out of Nigeria, particularly in the northern, Muslim-majority regions.
• ⚔️ In the Middle Belt region, militias from the Fulani ethnic group are engaged in what is described as a