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Boko Haram Hostages Freed in North, Cameroon Says Boko Haram Hostages Freed in North, Cameroon Says
(about 11 hours later)
YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon — Twenty-seven hostages presumed to have been kidnapped in May and July by the Nigerian group Boko Haram, including 10 Chinese construction workers and the wife of a vice prime minister, have been freed, Cameroon’s government said Saturday.YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon — Twenty-seven hostages presumed to have been kidnapped in May and July by the Nigerian group Boko Haram, including 10 Chinese construction workers and the wife of a vice prime minister, have been freed, Cameroon’s government said Saturday.
The hostages were returned early Saturday morning and “are safe and sound,” according to a statement from President Paul Biya’s office that was read on state radio. The hostages were returned early Saturday morning and “are safe and sound,” according to a statement from President Paul Biya’s office.
The Chinese road construction workers were kidnapped in May from their camp in Waza, in Cameroon’s Far North region.The Chinese road construction workers were kidnapped in May from their camp in Waza, in Cameroon’s Far North region.
Françoise-Agnès Moukouri, the wife of Vice Prime Minister Amadou Ali, was among a group of 17 people kidnapped in a July attack on their residence in the border town of Kolofata. Officials said at the time that 200 fighters stormed the residence, though Mr. Ali himself was away.Françoise-Agnès Moukouri, the wife of Vice Prime Minister Amadou Ali, was among a group of 17 people kidnapped in a July attack on their residence in the border town of Kolofata. Officials said at the time that 200 fighters stormed the residence, though Mr. Ali himself was away.
As the fighters retreated with their hostages, they set fire to the residence, stole safes and vehicles and killed at least five people, a military spokesman said at the time.As the fighters retreated with their hostages, they set fire to the residence, stole safes and vehicles and killed at least five people, a military spokesman said at the time.
A local religious leader was also abducted in the July attack and released Saturday, according to the Cameroon government’s statement. A local religious leader was also abducted in the attack and released Saturday, according to the government’s statement.
Boko Haram, which has been waging a terrorist campaign against the government and villagers in northern Nigeria, never claimed responsibility for the kidnappings, but both episodes raised concerns that the Nigeria-based insurgents have been expanding their operations in Cameroon as the government here has become increasingly involved in regional efforts to contain them.Boko Haram, which has been waging a terrorist campaign against the government and villagers in northern Nigeria, never claimed responsibility for the kidnappings, but both episodes raised concerns that the Nigeria-based insurgents have been expanding their operations in Cameroon as the government here has become increasingly involved in regional efforts to contain them.
Cameroon says it does not pay ransoms in kidnapping cases, and Saturday’s brief statement provided no details on the conditions of the hostages’ release. Boko Haram is seeking to establish an Islamist state in Nigeria, but its fighters often cross into Cameroon.
A government spokesman, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, said he could provide no details. On Friday he claimed to have no knowledge of negotiations over the hostages.
On Wednesday, however, witnesses said that Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, a senior Cameroonian official, had arrived in Maroua, the capital of the Far North region, fueling speculation that negotiations were reaching a conclusion.
Mr. Ngoh Ngoh was credited with gaining the release of other hostages, including a French priest kidnapped last November and freed the next month.