Meme Division, SW Region:

Soldiers Rescue Three Hostages After Gun Battle with Ambazonia Fighters 

By Innocent Kum in Yaounde

Tunisian citizen rescued from captivity by gove’t forces

Three hostages taken hostage near Bole Bakundu in Meme division, on 15 March, by suspected Ambazonia fighters have been freed.

            Security forces secured the released of the hostages from the hands of their kidnappers last week after a gun battle lasting several hours.

            The three kidnapees including a Tunisian and two Cameroonians are employees of a road construction company.

            The operation leading to their release unfortunately led to the death of another Tunisian engineer, government spokesman, Issa Tchiroma, said in a statement. Four of the kidnappers were neutralized, the statement added.

             “The Minister of Communication informs the national and international public opinion that a special operation conducted this morning by our defense and security forces Meme division, South west Region, has resulted in the release of three Tunisians from the  SOROUBAT enterprise, kidnapped in March 2018 by terrorists, while they were working on the construction of Kumba-lsangele road. Unfortunately on the occasion of this event, a Tunisian technician lost his life, but we saved another Tunisian technician and two Cameroonians…The Minister of Defense, myself and the Secretary of State, accompanied the Tunisian officials who came to find out what happened to their compatriots. I therefore take this opportunity to say on behalf of the government that we extend our condolences to the Tunisian government for this ordeal,” Tchiroma said, noting that prior to the gunfire exchange which led to the release of the hostages, the kidnappers had threatened to execute the captives if a ransom was not paid them within 24 hours.

            It is not immediately known whether any ransom was paid before the rescue mission. But Issa Tchiroma however congratulated the Defense and Security Forces for “their bravery and professionalism”. He urged them to continue to fight resolutely against the gangs of criminals who seek to jeopardize the peace and stability of “our dear and beautiful country, as well as the security of our populations.”

            The release of the hostages in Meme division came barely a day after the abducted board chairman of the Cameroon GCE Board, Prof. Ivo Leke Tambo, was also freed from the hands of Ambazonia fighters in Lebialem division. Reports said the Prof’s release was secured only after the payment of an undisclosed amount as ransom. Some sources talk of between twenty to thirty million cfa.