Gunmen in Cameroon are demanding a ransom of nearly $43,000 (£40,000) for the release of Father Valentin Mbaïbarem, a Catholic priest abducted last week while travelling between two regions in the north of the country.
The parish priest of St John the Baptist in Madingring was taken along with five others, one of whom, a teacher, has been killed, according to Fr Emmanuel Bonkou, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Garoua. The remaining hostages have since been released, leaving only Fr Mbaïbarem in captivity.
Archbishop Faustin Ambassa Ndjodo of Maroua has called on the faithful to pray for the priest’s swift and unconditional release.
Although the identities of the kidnappers have not been officially confirmed, suspicion has fallen on the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has long plagued the region with violence and abductions.
Bishop Barthélemy Yaouda Hourgo of Yagoua told Crux that the region’s security situation is “worsening,” and described ransom kidnappings as part of a broader strategy by insurgents to finance their operations. “When insurgents know you have some money -maybe you have sold your cows or crops - they come for you. If they can’t get you, they get your wife, your kids… It’s a whole industry,” he said.
Authorities in Cameroon say they are working with regional partners to cut off funding for the insurgents.
