Faithful on two continents are praying for the safe return of a Nigerian priest who once served in Alaska, and has been kidnapped in his home country.

Father Alphonsus Afina, assigned to several parishes across Alaska from September 2017 through 2024, was abducted June 1 along with an unspecified number of fellow travelers while in Nigeria’s Borno state, near the northeastern town of Gwoza.

Bishop John Bogma Bakeni of Maiduguri, Nigeria, told The Associated Press June 8 that the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram was responsible for the kidnapping.

The bishop said he had spoken briefly with Father Afina the day after the abduction and described him as “sounding OK” and “in good spirits” despite exhaustion.

OSV News has contacted the Diocese of Maiduguri, where Father Afina was ordained

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