The Bishop of Mamfe expressed his gratitude for the release of the priests, laity and religious, but reiterated his condemnation of the attack.
ACN – «I am sincerely grateful to all those who have joined us in praying for the safety and release of our brothers and sisters,» writes the Bishop of Mamfe, Bishop Aloysius Fondong Abangalo, in a statement sent to the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
The five priests, three lay people and a nun who were kidnapped in southwest Cameroon on September 16 have been released and are in good health. Since their abduction, ACN had repeatedly asked for prayers for their release.
«Like St. Paul, I say to each of you: ‘I am confident that he who began a good work with you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus'» (Philippians 1:6). The Bishop, in his message, encourages everyone to pray a mystery of the rosary, «to thank God for the liberation of our kidnapped brothers and sisters».
According to the testimony of one of the kidnapped, the rebels released them without receiving any ransom. In a video broadcast during the last few days in many media, the kidnapped were seen in very bad conditions, in the middle of the forest, while one of the priests was asking for help. As ACN has learned from reliable sources, these images date from two weeks earlier. When the video was released, the negotiation process for their release was already underway.
In his statement, the Bishop of Mamfe once again strongly condemns the desecration of the church of St. Mary of Nchang, which was set on fire in the attack, and reaffirms «the inhumanity of the deprivation of liberty of the brothers and sisters».
Cameroon is plagued by political and social conflicts between the Anglophone and Francophone regions. The population of the Anglophone regions, which are mainly located in the southwest and northwest of the country, feel marginalized by the national and Francophone authorities.
Since 2016, unrest has escalated significantly and there have been several violent clashes between government forces and rebels, who are fighting for independence from the self-proclaimed Republic of Ambazonia (or Federal Republic of Southern Cameroon). The army, in its fight against the rebels, has destroyed much of the region, including church buildings. This was the first time that the rebels have attacked the Catholic Church and abducted priests in their fight for independence.