By Arnold Neliba
MAMFE, OCTOBER 25, 2022 (CISA)-Rt Rev Aloysius Abangalo Fondong of the Catholic Diocese of Mamfe has today led the faithful in a thanksgiving Mass at St Joseph’s Cathedral Mamfe, following the safe release of the five Catholic priests, nun, catechist, cook, and a teenage girl kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nchang’ at the border with Nigeria.
The kidnapping of the nine by armed militants took place on September 16 when the abductors attacked and set fire to the Church.
“For over one month, we have experienced great pain and sorrow on account of the desecration of the main Church of St. Mary’s Parish, Nchang, and the kidnapping of our brothers and sisters,” Bishop Fondong Abangalo said in a statement dated October 23.
While condemning the recurrent kidnappings, the bishop expressed gratitude to all those who collaborated with them in negotiating for the safe release of the nine persons.
“I am sincerely grateful to all those who joined us in this collective effort in praying for the safety and release of our brothers and sisters. Words will only do scant justice in expressing my sentiments of gratitude to all those who collaborated with us in the process of negotiating for their safety and release,” he said.
“Taking away the freedom of our fellow brothers and sisters in order to make money at all cost is inhuman and should be desist from by whoever engages in such,” said the bishop while decrying the abductions and further calling on the armed militants to rethink their approach and ensure that the dignity of the human person is upheld.
