A Nigerian Catholic priest who recently returned from the United States has been abducted by suspected Boko Haram militants in the northeastern state of Borno, the Catholic Church confirmed on Sunday.

Rev. Alphonsus Afina, who served in Alaska from 2017 to 2024, was kidnapped on June 1 near the border town of Gwoza, close to Cameroon, along with other travelers. The incident occurred as the group awaited clearance at a military checkpoint while en route from Mubi to Maiduguri for a workshop.

A rocket-propelled grenade reportedly struck one of the vehicles in the convoy, killing one person and injuring several others.

Bishop John Bogna Bakeni of the Diocese of Maiduguri told the Associated Press that he was able to briefly speak to Afina by phone the day after the abduction. Despite being exhausted from trekking, the priest was described as “in good spirits.”

It remains unclear whether Rev. Afina was specifically targeted. Other travelers in the convoy were also taken, though the exact number remains unknown.

Rev. Robert Fath, the vicar general of the Diocese of Fairbanks in Alaska, said that he had received a direct phone call from Boko Haram confirming they had taken the priest.

Afina currently works with the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), a Catholic social justice group focused on humanitarian aid and peacebuilding in conflict zones.

So far, Nigerian authorities have not commented publicly on the abduction and have not responded to media inquiries.

The incident highlights the worsening insecurity in Nigeria’s north, where extremist and criminal groups frequently target civilians, religious figures, and aid workers. In March, another Catholic priest was kidnapped and killed in central Nigeria.

Boko Haram has waged a deadly insurgency since 2009, killing an estimated 35,000 people and displacing over 2 million, according to United Nations figures.