Camer360

Several hostages seized in the Far North have been released and reunited with their families—among them four children known locally as “Mama Nga’s” kids—after what local accounts describe as a 5,000,000 CFA francs payment to the kidnappers. Community sources say the captors escorted the group on foot to the Nigeria–Cameroon border, shared coordinates, and withdrew as Cameroonian security forces moved in to recover the victims for transport to Waza. The four children reportedly reached Yaoundé around 4 a.m. today.

Authorities have not issued a formal statement on the alleged payment. If confirmed, the episode underscores the security and governance dilemma facing communities: ensuring the immediate safety of abductees while avoiding measures that could incentivize further kidnappings. Local leaders caution that no arrests were made during the handover and warn residents that the gang remains active—possibly linked to a new incident reported in Mayo-Sava, where five children were abducted this week.

Civil society groups are urging a coordinated response: rapid victim support, better cross-border intelligence sharing, and visible operations targeting the kidnapping economy—logistics, safe havens and ransom channels. They also press for clear public communication on what happened, who is investigating, and how future incidents will be handled, to restore confidence in the state’s capacity to protect citizens without fueling copycat crimes.

As families begin to recover from the ordeal, residents say the priority is twofold: sustained security patrols along vulnerable corridors and transparent follow-through that brings the perpetrators to justice.