Audio By Carbonatix
Gunmen have released worshippers and priests who were abducted from a Catholic church in South-West Cameroon after 45 days of captivity.
A spokesman for the Cameroonian Episcopal Conference confirmed the release of the nine abductees on Sunday.
The victims were taken away last month after gunmen stormed St Mary Catholic Church in Nchang parish. The attackers later burnt the church.
In a statement, Bishop Aloysius Fondong thanked all those who helped in negotiating the release and safety of the abductees.
Ahead of their release, one of the abducted priests was filmed thanking the “freedom fighters of Ambazonia” - a separatist armed group in English-speaking regions of Cameroon.
He added that they were released without paying ransom.
The BBC has not been able to independently verify the claim while the circumstances of their release have not been officially communicated.
Two days before the release, a video emerged of the captives pleading with the Catholic Church to come to their rescue.
Latest Stories
-
BoG to sell up to $1bn in August as cedi faces fresh dollar demand pressure
8 minutes -
Maintain this pace, and we’ll retain power – Asiedu Nketiah confident of NDC re-election
18 minutes -
Nigeria’s Dangote refinery aims to raise $5 billion with October listing, source saysÂ
39 minutes -
Cameroon’s Biya, unseen for 58 days, reshuffles military leadership
50 minutes -
Nigeria’s Tinubu approves military pay rise as security challenges persist
1 hour -
I sleep well because I stand by the truth – Asiedu Nketiah defends tough leadership decisions
1 hour -
Rare monkey’s disappearance signals wider biodiversity crisis in West Africa, scientist warns
1 hour -
Asiedu Nketiah says he has no regrets over Haruna-Muntaka reshuffle
2 hours -
Alcaraz out of Cincinnati Open with lingering injury
2 hours -
AI used new levels of ‘autonomy and deception’ to trick people in safety test
2 hours -
‘I feel like I dug my own grave’: The workers caught in the AI transition
2 hours -
Oil prices fall on hopes Strait of Hormuz could reopen
2 hours -
Saudi-led group completes $55bn purchase of gaming giant EA
3 hours -
Paramount chief executive David Ellison breaks silence on Warner Bros mega merger
3 hours -
Athletes go ‘missing’ after Commonwealth Games ends
3 hours