After 10 Days in Captivity:

Kidnapped Konye Council Staff Released At Last

By Ekoko Willies in Kumba

Some kidnapped staff and councillors of Konye council have been release and presented to administrative authorities in Kumba. The 13 persons kidnapped on 25 February 2020 after participating in the election of the Mayor and his deputies were only released during the early hours of 5 March.

                The 4 councillors, 6 workers and 3 drivers were released at state of near starvation. They looked frail and tired. They spent ten days in the den of separatist fighters in the forest. Reports hold that the gunmen demanded FCFA 15 million few days after their kidnap.

                One of the victims told Meme SDO that they were seriously beaten and one of the lady's finger chopped off. Quizzed why they left the council premise without the security escort, one of them, said it was because they left Kumba that faithful morning and went Konye without any problem and so thought the road would still be safe for them to return.

                Ntou’ou Ndong explained he had written a circular to Konye and Mbonge councils requesting them to make sure they don't move without escort because escorts were already put in place to transport them from Kumba to Konye and back reason why the Mayor and other councillors did not fall in the dragnet of the gunmen.

                The 3rd Deputy Mayor whose finger was chopped off was rushed to the Presbyterian Hospital where the SDO after meeting with the other released victims later visited to sympathised with her.

                They disclosed that their Kidnappers collected money worth over 280,000 including other durable items. The administrator appreciated those who assisted him to ensure their release and called on the separatists fighters to dropped their arms and come back to town to live normal life.