A Catholic priest, Reverend Father Alphonsus Adina, who was abducted by Boko Haram insurgents on June 1st in Borno State, has regained his freedom, alongside ten other kidnapped victims, security sources have confirmed.
The priest, who was taken during a deadly insurgent attack along the Gwoza–Ngwocche axis of the state, was released on Monday following what sources described as a coordinated rescue operation involving the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Army.
Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno State, Apostle Joshua Akeredolu, confirmed the priest’s release, stating that Reverend Father Adina was abducted during an attack in which a staff member of a non-governmental organization was also killed.
“He was released yesterday. He was kidnapped in the Gwoza-Ngwocche axis where an NGO staff member was killed during the incident,” Akeredolu said.
Though details of the rescue operation remain sketchy, security operatives disclosed that ten women were rescued alongside the priest, bringing the total number of freed victims to eleven.
READ ALSO: Zulum Mourns as Boko Haram Kills Nine, Injures Four in Borno
The victims had been held captive for over six weeks in Boko Haram custody before the successful intervention by security forces.
Efforts are ongoing to ascertain the status of other individuals who may have been abducted during the same attack, as authorities intensify intelligence gathering in the region.
The release marks another success in the ongoing fight against insurgency in the North-East and underscores the challenges faced by civilians and aid workers operating in conflict-prone areas.
Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, while reaffirming their commitment to securing communities and bringing an end to terrorism in the region.