Two Italian priests and a Canadian nun kidnapped in northern Cameroon in early April by suspected Boko Haram gunmen have been released, Cameroon's communications minister said on Sunday.
Gilberte Bussières is from Asbestos, Que. and has worked in Africa as a nun since 1979. Her abduction occurred about 30 kilometres from the border with Nigeria. (onraconteque.canalblog.com)
Church authorities identified the priests at the time of their abduction as Giampaolo Marta and Gianantonio Allegri, missionaries from the diocese of Vicenza in northeast Italy, and the nun as Gilberte Bussières.
"I confirm the release of the two priests and the nun abducted a few weeks ago. They are in good health. They are now in a plane heading to Yaounde," Cameroon's Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary said.
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said news of the release "fills us with joy."
"We thank the Lord that this dramatic episode has reached a positive outcome," Lombardi said.
Pope Francis had followed the affair closely, he said, and had been informed immediately of the releases.
"It's a great joy," said Federica Mogherini, Italy's foreign affairs minister in response to the news.
"I first thank the authorities of Cameroon President Paul Biya for the great work done and the government of Canada with whom we have worked closely, "Mogherini said.
"I want to express my great satisfaction for the success of an operation conducted brilliantly, thanks to the continued cooperation between our intelligence services and the crisis unit of the foreign ministry," she added.
The priests had been working on improving water supplies and fighting the spread of HIV AIDS, as well as their religious duties, according to their diocese website.
Bussières is from Asbestos, Que., and belongs to the Montreal-based Congrégation de Notre-Dame. According to the congregation, Bussières has worked in Africa since 1979.
One of the priests said in a letter to his diocese — posted on its website — that local authorities had advised him to travel with a police escort due to the deteriorating security situation in northern Cameroon.
Bishop Beniamino Pizziol, centre, with Rev. Gianantonio Alllegri, right, and Giampaolo Marta, left, during a visit to Cameroon in January 2014. (Vicenza Diocese / AP)
Boko Haram fighters have killed thousands of people in the group's fight to carve out an Islamic state in neighbouring northern Nigeria. They have increasingly carried out attacks and kidnappings in northern Cameroon, including the abduction of a French family of seven in February 2013. The family was released two months later.
A French Catholic priest was captured by an unknown group in the same region in November and freed the following month.
Nigeria's head of counter terrorism in an interview with Reuters on Friday accused Cameroon of failing to make a serious effort to drive Boko Haram insurgents from its territory.
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