Boko Haram: Cameroon Says 27 Hostages Freed

Boko Haram Insurgents

Cameroon's government announced Saturday that 27 hostages presumed to have been kidnapped by Boko Haram, including 10 Chinese construction workers and the wife of a vice prime minister, had been freed, FOX news reported.

The hostages were returned early Saturday morning and "are safe and sound," according to a statement from President Paul Biya's office read on state radio.

The Chinese road construction workers were kidnapped in May from their base in Waza, in Cameroon's Far North region.

Francoise Agnes Moukouri, wife of vice Prime Minister Amadou Ali, was among a group of 17 people kidnapped in a July attack targeting their residence in the border town of Kolofata. Officials said at the time that 200 fighters stormed the residence, though Ali himself was away.

As the fighters retreated with their hostages, they set fire to the residence, stole safes and vehicles and killed at least five people, a military spokesman said at the time.

A local religious leader was also abducted in the July attack and released Saturday, according to the Cameroon government statement.

Cameroon says it does not pay ransoms in kidnapping cases, and Saturday's brief statement provided no details on the conditions of the hostages' release.

Government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary said he could provide no details. On Friday he claimed to have no knowledge of ongoing negotiations.