Rescue of 27 hostages in Cameroon

(Baonghean.vn) - On Friday night, early Saturday morning, October 11, President Paul Biya announced that 27 Chinese and Cameroonian hostages kidnapped in May and July in the northern region of Cameroon had been successfully rescued.

“The hostages kidnapped on May 16 in Waza (northern Cameroon) and on July 27 in Kolofata have been successfully rescued by the authorities. The 10 Chinese nationals, the wife of Cameroon’s Deputy Prime Minister Amadou Ali, the mayor of Kolafata and other family members are all safe and well,” the Cameroonian president said in a speech on national television Saturday morning.

Cameroonian soldiers at a checkpoint on June 17, 2014 in Armchidé. Photo: Reinnier Kaze

Cameroon authorities said the kidnapping was carried out by Boko Haram, a Nigerian Islamist militant group that has been insurgent in neighboring Nigeria since 2009. They have carried out attacks across Cameroon’s northern border, prompting the country to deploy troops to the area.

On the evening of May 16 and early morning of May 17, armed men believed to be from Boko Haram attacked a factory housing Chinese workers. They had earlier killed a group of Cameroonian soldiers and 10 other Chinese.

On July 27, Boko Haram militants carried out two attacks on high-ranking Cameroonian government officials. They attacked the residence of Deputy Prime Minister Amadou Ali and kidnapped his wife. At the same time, the militants also attacked the home of Kolafata Mayor Seiny Boukar Lamine, kidnapping him and five other family members. At least 15 people were killed in the attacks.

Chu Thanh– Liberation 11/10