Kidnapped former Cameroon minister regains freedom

Cameroon’s former Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice in charge of Penitentiary Administration, Dr. Emmanuel Ngafeeson Bantar, who was kidnapped on Tuesday, March 19, has regained his freedom.

After spending over 10 days with his abductors, the former statesman was taken away by unknown gunmen in Bamenda-Ntabessi regained his freedom late Saturday.

It is yet unclear if his release is credited to the intense rescue operation launched by security forces or if he was liberated by his abductors after meeting their demands. The former Minister and his family have stayed away from the press refusing to comment on the circumstances surrounding his abduction nor how he regained his freedom.

Till now, no official statement has been put forth by the government of Cameroon. Days after he was kidnapped, security forces intercepted the vehicle of the former minister. Though the driver of the vehicle succeeded to escape, three occupants of the car were arrested and taken in for questioning.

Kidnappings is now a new-normal in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon which has since the commencement of the Anglophone crisis in 2016 been marred by civil protest and bullet exchange between pro-government forces and armed separatist groups.