Kidnapped priests, Christians appear in video, make distress call.

The frail-looking priests and Christians made the plea in a tear-provoking video that went viral on the social media during the early hours of yesterday.

The five priests, a nun, a catechist, a cook and a teenager, it should be recalled, were whisked to an unknown location last September 16, by gunmen described by Mamfe Bishop, His Lordship Aloysius Fondong Abangalo, as Catholic Christians-turned Amba fighters.

They were abducted shortly after the gunmen burnt down the St Mary Catholic Church in Nchang village. Among the five abducted priests are two Nigerians.

The seven of the abductees were filmed sitting on an almost rotten wooden bench while two women were captured in a near-kneeling posture in what looked like a makeshift home in the 44 seconds video shot from the bush by the kidnappers.

The sad-looking abductees wore long faces with some having swollen eyes suggesting signs of having been subjected to torture by their abductors.

Speaking in the video, one of the priests, Rev Fr Cornelius Jingwa, declared that “it has not been easy”.

“If you look at us, you will see our faces very dismal, very unhappy. It is quite difficult. We are only begging my Lord, that you do everything possible to get us out of here,” Rev Fr Jingwa pleaded in a very low tone which suggested he was in pains.

He sounded alarm of their worsening health situation due to the harsh conditions they are exposed to in the bush.

“It is a matter of do or die. So, you see for example I have been very sick…my brothers too are not feeling fine at all,” he said.

Rev Fr Jingwa pleaded with the Catholic Church hierarchy to change their stance and listen to their abductors and free them from captivity as fast as possible. 

“So please, kindly help get us out of here. Do whatever it takes to listen to these boys and do what they ask of you. Thank you,” Rev Fr Jingwa concluded.

Church stealthily negotiating with kidnappers?

Until yesterday, no information had filtered as to the whereabouts of the five priests; Rev Fathers Elias Okorie, Barnabas Ashu, Cornelius Jingwa, Job Francis Nwobegu, Emmanuel Asaba, Sr Jacinta C. Udeagha (the nun), Nkem Patrick Osang (the catechist), Kelechukwu (the cook) and the little girl, Blanche Bright.

The Deputy Coordinator of Communication at the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, Rev Fr Humphrey Tata Mbuyi, earlier this week revealed that the Bishop of Mamfe was negotiating for the release of the abductees.  

“The Bishop of Mamfe is still trying to see how he can negotiate to free them. The abductors seem to have been asking for a lot of money and the Bishop doesn’t have the kind of money they are asking for,” Rev Fr Tata Mbuyi disclosed in an interview he granted CRTV’s flagship programme, Cameroon Calling, last Sunday.  

Rev Fr Tata Mbuyi expressed shock as to whether the conflict has “reached a point where the church should be giving money as ransom,” to gunmen.

Church, kidnappers in tug of war over ransom

The church had through the President of the Bamenda Provincial Episcopal Conference, BAPEC, His Grace Andrew Nkea, vowed not to give a franc as ransom from the over 32.6 million FCFA the kidnappers were demanding.  

“They are demanding $100,000. They keep changing the amount…they are somewhere now about $50,000. We don’t have even $1 to pay for this kind of thing,” Nkea said.

The prelate categorically stated that giving even a franc as ransom to gunmen will be “setting a precedence” that the church “can never continue”.

He said but for accusations that church is “not supporting the struggle for independence by separatist fighters”, the kidnappers did not advance further reasons for the act.

Nkea said the gunmen sometimes see the church as a “soft target to be able to make money”. He said unfortunately for the gunmen, the “…church has no money to be paying ransom.

BAPEC had last September 17, condemned the Nchang church arson and kidnappings, noting that “a wave of persecution against the hierarchy of the church is now the new game of the ‘struggle’”.

The Bishops in their statement regretted that “some of those who attack the churches ferociously, are people who are either members of these churches or who have benefitted from the generosity of these churches”.

Gunmen ignore Pope’s appeal

The appeal of the Head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, made at the end of mass in the Southern Italian city of Matera Sunday September 25, while praying for peace in Cameroon, has so far been ignored by the kidnappers.

“I join in the appeal of the Bishops of Cameroon for the liberation of some people kidnapped in the Diocese of Mamfe, including five priests and a religious sister. May the Lord give peace to hearts and to the social life of that dear country,” Pope Francis had appealed.

Mamfe Bishop, His Lordship Aloysius Fondong Abangalo, had after visiting the burnt church, described the act as an “abomination”.  

He had urged the people to pray and seek God’s forgiveness for the act but declared that the church will no longer return to Nchang village. The prelate said Catholic Christians-turned separatist fighters were responsible for the arson and kidnapping.

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The frail-looking priests and Christians made the plea in a tear-provoking video that went viral on the social media during the early hours of yesterday.

The five priests, a nun, a catechist, a cook and a teenager, it should be recalled, were whisked to an unknown location last September 16, by gunmen described by Mamfe Bishop, His Lordship Aloysius Fondong Abangalo, as Catholic Christians-turned Amba fighters.

They were abducted shortly after the gunmen burnt down the St Mary Catholic Church in Nchang village. Among the five abducted priests are two Nigerians.

The seven of the abductees were filmed sitting on an almost rotten wooden bench while two women were captured in a near-kneeling posture in what looked like a makeshift home in the 44 seconds video shot from the bush by the kidnappers.

The sad-looking abductees wore long faces with some having swollen eyes suggesting signs of having been subjected to torture by their abductors.

Speaking in the video, one of the priests, Rev Fr Cornelius Jingwa, declared that “it has not been easy”.

“If you look at us, you will see our faces very dismal, very unhappy. It is quite difficult. We are only begging my Lord, that you do everything possible to get us out of here,” Rev Fr Jingwa pleaded in a very low tone which suggested he was in pains.

He sounded alarm of their worsening health situation due to the harsh conditions they are exposed to in the bush.

“It is a matter of do or die. So, you see for example I have been very sick…my brothers too are not feeling fine at all,” he said.

Rev Fr Jingwa pleaded with the Catholic Church hierarchy to change their stance and listen to their abductors and free them from captivity as fast as possible. 

“So please, kindly help get us out of here. Do whatever it takes to listen to these boys and do what they ask of you. Thank you,” Rev Fr Jingwa concluded.

Church stealthily negotiating with kidnappers?

Until yesterday, no information had filtered as to the whereabouts of the five priests; Rev Fathers Elias Okorie, Barnabas Ashu, Cornelius Jingwa, Job Francis Nwobegu, Emmanuel Asaba, Sr Jacinta C. Udeagha (the nun), Nkem Patrick Osang (the catechist), Kelechukwu (the cook) and the little girl, Blanche Bright.

The Deputy Coordinator of Communication at the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, Rev Fr Humphrey Tata Mbuyi, earlier this week revealed that the Bishop of Mamfe was negotiating for the release of the abductees.  

“The Bishop of Mamfe is still trying to see how he can negotiate to free them. The abductors seem to have been asking for a lot of money and the Bishop doesn’t have the kind of money they are asking for,” Rev Fr Tata Mbuyi disclosed in an interview he granted CRTV’s flagship programme, Cameroon Calling, last Sunday.  

Rev Fr Tata Mbuyi expressed shock as to whether the conflict has “reached a point where the church should be giving money as ransom,” to gunmen.

Church, kidnappers in tug of war over ransom

The church had through the President of the Bamenda Provincial Episcopal Conference, BAPEC, His Grace Andrew Nkea, vowed not to give a franc as ransom from the over 32.6 million FCFA the kidnappers were demanding.  

“They are demanding $100,000. They keep changing the amount…they are somewhere now about $50,000. We don’t have even $1 to pay for this kind of thing,” Nkea said.

The prelate categorically stated that giving even a franc as ransom to gunmen will be “setting a precedence” that the church “can never continue”.

He said but for accusations that church is “not supporting the struggle for independence by separatist fighters”, the kidnappers did not advance further reasons for the act.

Nkea said the gunmen sometimes see the church as a “soft target to be able to make money”. He said unfortunately for the gunmen, the “…church has no money to be paying ransom.

BAPEC had last September 17, condemned the Nchang church arson and kidnappings, noting that “a wave of persecution against the hierarchy of the church is now the new game of the ‘struggle’”.

The Bishops in their statement regretted that “some of those who attack the churches ferociously, are people who are either members of these churches or who have benefitted from the generosity of these churches”.

Gunmen ignore Pope’s appeal

The appeal of the Head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, made at the end of mass in the Southern Italian city of Matera Sunday September 25, while praying for peace in Cameroon, has so far been ignored by the kidnappers.

“I join in the appeal of the Bishops of Cameroon for the liberation of some people kidnapped in the Diocese of Mamfe, including five priests and a religious sister. May the Lord give peace to hearts and to the social life of that dear country,” Pope Francis had appealed.

Mamfe Bishop, His Lordship Aloysius Fondong Abangalo, had after visiting the burnt church, described the act as an “abomination”.  

He had urged the people to pray and seek God’s forgiveness for the act but declared that the church will no longer return to Nchang village. The prelate said Catholic Christians-turned separatist fighters were responsible for the arson and kidnapping.

">

The frail-looking priests and Christians made the plea in a tear-provoking video that went viral on the social media during the early hours of yesterday.

The five priests, a nun, a catechist, a cook and a teenager, it should be recalled, were whisked to an unknown location last September 16, by gunmen described by Mamfe Bishop, His Lordship Aloysius Fondong Abangalo, as Catholic Christians-turned Amba fighters.

They were abducted shortly after the gunmen burnt down the St Mary Catholic Church in Nchang village. Among the five abducted priests are two Nigerians.

The seven of the abductees were filmed sitting on an almost rotten wooden bench while two women were captured in a near-kneeling posture in what looked like a makeshift home in the 44 seconds video shot from the bush by the kidnappers.

The sad-looking abductees wore long faces with some having swollen eyes suggesting signs of having been subjected to torture by their abductors.

Speaking in the video, one of the priests, Rev Fr Cornelius Jingwa, declared that “it has not been easy”.

“If you look at us, you will see our faces very dismal, very unhappy. It is quite difficult. We are only begging my Lord, that you do everything possible to get us out of here,” Rev Fr Jingwa pleaded in a very low tone which suggested he was in pains.

He sounded alarm of their worsening health situation due to the harsh conditions they are exposed to in the bush.

“It is a matter of do or die. So, you see for example I have been very sick…my brothers too are not feeling fine at all,” he said.

Rev Fr Jingwa pleaded with the Catholic Church hierarchy to change their stance and listen to their abductors and free them from captivity as fast as possible. 

“So please, kindly help get us out of here. Do whatever it takes to listen to these boys and do what they ask of you. Thank you,” Rev Fr Jingwa concluded.

Church stealthily negotiating with kidnappers?

Until yesterday, no information had filtered as to the whereabouts of the five priests; Rev Fathers Elias Okorie, Barnabas Ashu, Cornelius Jingwa, Job Francis Nwobegu, Emmanuel Asaba, Sr Jacinta C. Udeagha (the nun), Nkem Patrick Osang (the catechist), Kelechukwu (the cook) and the little girl, Blanche Bright.

The Deputy Coordinator of Communication at the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, Rev Fr Humphrey Tata Mbuyi, earlier this week revealed that the Bishop of Mamfe was negotiating for the release of the abductees.  

“The Bishop of Mamfe is still trying to see how he can negotiate to free them. The abductors seem to have been asking for a lot of money and the Bishop doesn’t have the kind of money they are asking for,” Rev Fr Tata Mbuyi disclosed in an interview he granted CRTV’s flagship programme, Cameroon Calling, last Sunday.  

Rev Fr Tata Mbuyi expressed shock as to whether the conflict has “reached a point where the church should be giving money as ransom,” to gunmen.

Church, kidnappers in tug of war over ransom

The church had through the President of the Bamenda Provincial Episcopal Conference, BAPEC, His Grace Andrew Nkea, vowed not to give a franc as ransom from the over 32.6 million FCFA the kidnappers were demanding.  

“They are demanding $100,000. They keep changing the amount…they are somewhere now about $50,000. We don’t have even $1 to pay for this kind of thing,” Nkea said.

The prelate categorically stated that giving even a franc as ransom to gunmen will be “setting a precedence” that the church “can never continue”.

He said but for accusations that church is “not supporting the struggle for independence by separatist fighters”, the kidnappers did not advance further reasons for the act.

Nkea said the gunmen sometimes see the church as a “soft target to be able to make money”. He said unfortunately for the gunmen, the “…church has no money to be paying ransom.

BAPEC had last September 17, condemned the Nchang church arson and kidnappings, noting that “a wave of persecution against the hierarchy of the church is now the new game of the ‘struggle’”.

The Bishops in their statement regretted that “some of those who attack the churches ferociously, are people who are either members of these churches or who have benefitted from the generosity of these churches”.

Gunmen ignore Pope’s appeal

The appeal of the Head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, made at the end of mass in the Southern Italian city of Matera Sunday September 25, while praying for peace in Cameroon, has so far been ignored by the kidnappers.

“I join in the appeal of the Bishops of Cameroon for the liberation of some people kidnapped in the Diocese of Mamfe, including five priests and a religious sister. May the Lord give peace to hearts and to the social life of that dear country,” Pope Francis had appealed.

Mamfe Bishop, His Lordship Aloysius Fondong Abangalo, had after visiting the burnt church, described the act as an “abomination”.  

He had urged the people to pray and seek God’s forgiveness for the act but declared that the church will no longer return to Nchang village. The prelate said Catholic Christians-turned separatist fighters were responsible for the arson and kidnapping.

">

The frail-looking priests and Christians made the plea in a tear-provoking video that went viral on the social media during the early hours of yesterday.

The five priests, a nun, a catechist, a cook and a teenager, it should be recalled, were whisked to an unknown location last September 16, by gunmen described by Mamfe Bishop, His Lordship Aloysius Fondong Abangalo, as Catholic Christians-turned Amba fighters.

They were abducted shortly after the gunmen burnt down the St Mary Catholic Church in Nchang village. Among the five abducted priests are two Nigerians.

The seven of the abductees were filmed sitting on an almost rotten wooden bench while two women were captured in a near-kneeling posture in what looked like a makeshift home in the 44 seconds video shot from the bush by the kidnappers.

The sad-looking abductees wore long faces with some having swollen eyes suggesting signs of having been subjected to torture by their abductors.

Speaking in the video, one of the priests, Rev Fr Cornelius Jingwa, declared that “it has not been easy”.

“If you look at us, you will see our faces very dismal, very unhappy. It is quite difficult. We are only begging my Lord, that you do everything possible to get us out of here,” Rev Fr Jingwa pleaded in a very low tone which suggested he was in pains.

He sounded alarm of their worsening health situation due to the harsh conditions they are exposed to in the bush.

“It is a matter of do or die. So, you see for example I have been very sick…my brothers too are not feeling fine at all,” he said.

Rev Fr Jingwa pleaded with the Catholic Church hierarchy to change their stance and listen to their abductors and free them from captivity as fast as possible. 

“So please, kindly help get us out of here. Do whatever it takes to listen to these boys and do what they ask of you. Thank you,” Rev Fr Jingwa concluded.

Church stealthily negotiating with kidnappers?

Until yesterday, no information had filtered as to the whereabouts of the five priests; Rev Fathers Elias Okorie, Barnabas Ashu, Cornelius Jingwa, Job Francis Nwobegu, Emmanuel Asaba, Sr Jacinta C. Udeagha (the nun), Nkem Patrick Osang (the catechist), Kelechukwu (the cook) and the little girl, Blanche Bright.

The Deputy Coordinator of Communication at the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, Rev Fr Humphrey Tata Mbuyi, earlier this week revealed that the Bishop of Mamfe was negotiating for the release of the abductees.  

“The Bishop of Mamfe is still trying to see how he can negotiate to free them. The abductors seem to have been asking for a lot of money and the Bishop doesn’t have the kind of money they are asking for,” Rev Fr Tata Mbuyi disclosed in an interview he granted CRTV’s flagship programme, Cameroon Calling, last Sunday.  

Rev Fr Tata Mbuyi expressed shock as to whether the conflict has “reached a point where the church should be giving money as ransom,” to gunmen.

Church, kidnappers in tug of war over ransom

The church had through the President of the Bamenda Provincial Episcopal Conference, BAPEC, His Grace Andrew Nkea, vowed not to give a franc as ransom from the over 32.6 million FCFA the kidnappers were demanding.  

“They are demanding $100,000. They keep changing the amount…they are somewhere now about $50,000. We don’t have even $1 to pay for this kind of thing,” Nkea said.

The prelate categorically stated that giving even a franc as ransom to gunmen will be “setting a precedence” that the church “can never continue”.

He said but for accusations that church is “not supporting the struggle for independence by separatist fighters”, the kidnappers did not advance further reasons for the act.

Nkea said the gunmen sometimes see the church as a “soft target to be able to make money”. He said unfortunately for the gunmen, the “…church has no money to be paying ransom.

BAPEC had last September 17, condemned the Nchang church arson and kidnappings, noting that “a wave of persecution against the hierarchy of the church is now the new game of the ‘struggle’”.

The Bishops in their statement regretted that “some of those who attack the churches ferociously, are people who are either members of these churches or who have benefitted from the generosity of these churches”.

Gunmen ignore Pope’s appeal

The appeal of the Head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, made at the end of mass in the Southern Italian city of Matera Sunday September 25, while praying for peace in Cameroon, has so far been ignored by the kidnappers.

“I join in the appeal of the Bishops of Cameroon for the liberation of some people kidnapped in the Diocese of Mamfe, including five priests and a religious sister. May the Lord give peace to hearts and to the social life of that dear country,” Pope Francis had appealed.

Mamfe Bishop, His Lordship Aloysius Fondong Abangalo, had after visiting the burnt church, described the act as an “abomination”.  

He had urged the people to pray and seek God’s forgiveness for the act but declared that the church will no longer return to Nchang village. The prelate said Catholic Christians-turned separatist fighters were responsible for the arson and kidnapping.

">

The frail-looking priests and Christians made the plea in a tear-provoking video that went viral on the social media during the early hours of yesterday.

The five priests, a nun, a catechist, a cook and a teenager, it should be recalled, were whisked to an unknown location last September 16, by gunmen described by Mamfe Bishop, His Lordship Aloysius Fondong Abangalo, as Catholic Christians-turned Amba fighters.

They were abducted shortly after the gunmen burnt down the St Mary Catholic Church in Nchang village. Among the five abducted priests are two Nigerians.

The seven of the abductees were filmed sitting on an almost rotten wooden bench while two women were captured in a near-kneeling posture in what looked like a makeshift home in the 44 seconds video shot from the bush by the kidnappers.

The sad-looking abductees wore long faces with some having swollen eyes suggesting signs of having been subjected to torture by their abductors.

Speaking in the video, one of the priests, Rev Fr Cornelius Jingwa, declared that “it has not been easy”.

“If you look at us, you will see our faces very dismal, very unhappy. It is quite difficult. We are only begging my Lord, that you do everything possible to get us out of here,” Rev Fr Jingwa pleaded in a very low tone which suggested he was in pains.

He sounded alarm of their worsening health situation due to the harsh conditions they are exposed to in the bush.

“It is a matter of do or die. So, you see for example I have been very sick…my brothers too are not feeling fine at all,” he said.

Rev Fr Jingwa pleaded with the Catholic Church hierarchy to change their stance and listen to their abductors and free them from captivity as fast as possible. 

“So please, kindly help get us out of here. Do whatever it takes to listen to these boys and do what they ask of you. Thank you,” Rev Fr Jingwa concluded.

Church stealthily negotiating with kidnappers?

Until yesterday, no information had filtered as to the whereabouts of the five priests; Rev Fathers Elias Okorie, Barnabas Ashu, Cornelius Jingwa, Job Francis Nwobegu, Emmanuel Asaba, Sr Jacinta C. Udeagha (the nun), Nkem Patrick Osang (the catechist), Kelechukwu (the cook) and the little girl, Blanche Bright.

The Deputy Coordinator of Communication at the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, Rev Fr Humphrey Tata Mbuyi, earlier this week revealed that the Bishop of Mamfe was negotiating for the release of the abductees.  

“The Bishop of Mamfe is still trying to see how he can negotiate to free them. The abductors seem to have been asking for a lot of money and the Bishop doesn’t have the kind of money they are asking for,” Rev Fr Tata Mbuyi disclosed in an interview he granted CRTV’s flagship programme, Cameroon Calling, last Sunday.  

The frail-looking priests and Christians made t