Jubilation In Mamfe As Kidnapped Priests, Others Freed

By Tarhyang Enowbikah Tabe

There had been jubilation and merrymaking at the Roman Catholic Church Premises in Mamfe and Nchang Village following the appearance of a car that afternoon with 9 Church members  kidnapped by alleged separatist fighters. 

The Four Priests, a cook, a little girl, a Nun, and an assistant Catechist kidnapped at the St Mary Catholic Church in Nchang Village in the Manyu Division were freed on October 23 by their kidnappers.

An insider said they were taken by the kidnappers to an area around Akwaya before their release. 

It is believed that the pictures that went in circulation were taken at a location in Nigeria - Ikom, that shares a common boundary with Akwaya in the Manyu Division.

Though the Bishop of the Mamfe Dioceses has not made any official statement on the release of the kidnapped Priests and the Christians, suspects believe their release was secured by a Christian based organization in Nigeria.

This came several days after a one minute video went viral on the social media, showing the kidnapped in tears, describing their state as desperate and pleading to the Catholic Church for their rescue.  

They insisted that if nothing was done, majority of them will return to difficult conditions. “It is a matter of life and death, the lead priest said in the video”. 

They begged the Church to do all possible to secure their release.

Another video that was released hours before they finally appeared in public, showed the kidnapped thanking the kidnappers for releasing them without ransom and for their hospitality throughout their stay in captivity. He went further to describe the kidnappers as, "freedom fighters".

“An operation carried out by The Roman Catholic Church - aware of their plight, together with some forces of the law and order on October 21, led to their freedom". A source told African Stringers. 

One of the kidnapped who has decided to be anonymous told African Stringers that, “They were asking for a ransom of FCFA 60 Million”. 

Another victim added, "We were brutally tortured and starved. We went for days without food and water, the crisis is real".

The Catholic Church says church buildings, schools and hospitals owned by churches are regularly being attacked by armed men. Since the crisis began in 2016, Clergy have been soft targets of kidnap, torture and gunmen.

However, a strong warning have been sent out by the church saying, "the church is neutral and no one has the right to target men and women of God". 

Meanwhile, there has been serious debates on different Media platforms as to whether or not  a ransom was paid the kidnappers and if actually they were hospitable. The debates, however, ended in most cases with the conclusion that, the unharmed release of the kidnapped, was the most essential.