Ransom was paid for release of missionaries kidnapped in Haiti

/ Our Today

administrator

Reading Time: 2 minutes

A sign reading “Bible Training Centre, Strive to receive praise from God” is seen at the Christian Aid Ministries compound after the abduction of a US-based group of missionaries, in Titanyen, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti October 18, 2021. (File Photo: REUTERS/Ralph Tedy Erol)

(Reuters)

A ransom was paid to secure the release of a group of Canadian and American missionaries kidnapped in Haiti, the United States (US)-based Christian ministry group who organised their trip to the Caribbean nation said today (December 20)

“Other people who sought to help us provided funds to pay a ransom and allow the negotiation process to continue. As you can imagine, we are not able to say anything further in respect to these negotiations,” a spokesman for the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries (CAM) said during a news conference.

The last 12 Canadian and American missionaries from the group kidnapped in October were released last week, ending an ordeal that brought global attention to the Caribbean nation’s growing problem of gang abductions.

“Thank you for your fervent prayers throughout the past two months.”
Christian Aid Ministries

The group, which was abducted by a gang known as 400 Mawozo after visiting an orphanage, originally numbered 17 people on a trip organised by CAM.

Five of the hostages had already been freed in recent weeks, and the final dozen were found by authorities on a mountain called Morne à Cabrit, said police spokesman Garry Derosier. He declined last Thursday (December 16) to provide further details on the release.

“Join us in praising God that all 17 of our loved ones are now safe,” CAM said in a statement Thursday.

“Thank you for your fervent prayers throughout the past two months.”

The 400 Mawozo gang, which controls territory to the east of the capital Port-au-Prince, had said it was seeking a ransom of US$1 million for each of the missionaries.

The gang’s leader, who goes by the nickname Lanmo Sanjou and has appeared in internet videos wearing a Spider-Man mask, had said he was willing to kill the hostages.

Gangs have extended their control of territory in Haiti since the assassination in July of President Jovenel Moise. One gang coalition in October created a nationwide fuel shortage by blocking access to storage terminals.

Haitians say everyone from well-heeled elites to working class street vendors face the threat of abduction by the gangs.

READ: Missionaries kidnapped in Haiti escaped after ransom money raised – ministry group