By Paschal Norbert
BAMENDA, APRIL 8, 2025 (CISA)- “We’re relieved to be able to report the release from captivity this afternoon, Thursday April 3rd, of Brother Huub Welters MHM and his assistant Henry Kang,” the Mill Hill Missionaries announced in a statement confirming the end of a tense two-day abduction.
Brother Huub Welters, an 83-year-old British member of the Mill Hill Missionaries, and his assistant, Bobe Achoh Henry Kang, were abducted on Tuesday, April 1, in the Bambui area of Tubah Subdivision, Mezam Division, in Cameroon’s North West Region. The two were reportedly on their way from Bamenda to Boyo for a routine pastoral visit and inspection of completed and ongoing projects when they were intercepted by armed men suspected to be Ambazonia separatist fighters.
Their disappearance sent shockwaves through the local community and the broader Catholic faithful in the Boyo Division, as concerns mounted over their safety. Brother Huub, a long-serving missionary known for his humanitarian engagement in the region, was especially missed by the communities he serves. His assistant, Henry Kang, has previously been the target of abductions during the protracted Anglophone crisis, but this incident marked the first time he was taken alongside his superior.
Photos documenting their release were shared by Fr Innocent Akum, the local Mill Hill Missionary Superior. Both men were returned safely and in good health to Mill Hill House in Bamenda. The missionary society has expressed deep gratitude for their safe return, though details surrounding the release—such as whether a ransom was paid, or negotiations occurred—remain unclear.
The kidnapping underscored the growing insecurity in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, where separatist groups have waged an armed struggle since 2017, seeking independence for the self-declared state of Ambazonia. The conflict has left thousands dead and displaced over half a million people. Aid workers, clergy, and local leaders have increasingly become targets of abductions, intimidation, and violence.
Relatives of the abducted men and members of the Mill Hill Missionaries had earlier made urgent appeals for their immediate and unconditional release. Civil society actors and religious leaders have also reiterated calls for dialogue and an end to violence targeting civilians and humanitarian personnel.
As of now, Cameroonian authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the abduction or the circumstances surrounding the pair’s release.
With tensions still high in the region, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the precarious situation facing religious and humanitarian workers, and the urgent need for lasting peace in Cameroon’s troubled North West and South West regions.
