Cameroon’s government has said that 27 hostages presumed to have been kidnapped by Boko Haram, including 10 Chinese construction workers and the wife of a deputy prime minister, have been freed.
Wife of Cameroon’s vice-prime minister who was seized in July
Their release announced in an official statement from the Office of the President of Cameroon Paul Biya, which was read on state radio on Saturday.
According to the statement, they were released early Saturday morning.
The Chinese workers were seized in May near the town of Waza, 20 km (12 miles) from the Nigerian border. The others freed include the wife of , the presidency said.
The statement reads, “The 27 hostages kidnapped on May 16, 2014, at Waza and on July 27, 2014, at Kolofata were given this night to Cameroonian authorities.
“Ten Chinese, the wife of the Vice Prime Minister Amadou Ali, the Lamido (a local religious leader) of Kolofata, and the members of their families kidnapped with them are safe.”
He offered no further no further details.
Boko Haram has stepped up cross-border attacks into Cameroon this year. Cameroon has deployed troops to its northern region, joining international efforts to combat the militants.
