Gang members held the Christian aid workers captive for two months.
QUICK FACTS:
- On Oct. 16, the “400 Mawozo” gang kidnapped seventeen members of the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries—sixteen Americans and one Canadien—and their Haitian driver. Five of the hostages were children.
- The gang released two of the missionaries in Nov. and three more in early Dec. The rest were set free on Thursday.
AMERICAN MISSIONARIES:
- “We glorify God for answered prayer—the remaining 12 hostages are FREE!” Christian Aid Ministries announced in a prepared statement. “Join us in praising God that all 17 of our loved ones are now safe.”
- While the hostages’ identities remain private, some details have been released. The Americans come from Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Oregon, while the Canadien is from Ontario.
- Some of the kidnapees, including a mother and four of her children, were members of the Hart Dunkard Brethren Church in Hart, Michigan. “Today is the day we have been hoping for, praying for, and working so hard to achieve,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga, whose district includes Hart.
- The kidnapping occurred while the missionaries were on a trip to visit an orphanage.
HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS:
- The 400 Mawozo gang’s leader had threatened to kill the hostages unless his demands were met.
- Authorities said that the gang demanded $1 million per person, although it wasn’t clear if that included the children.
- As of Thursday, there were no official comments on whether any ransom was indeed paid. What efforts have led to the missionaries’ freedom remains unclear.
