An 83-year-old missionary from Britain and his aide have been seized by an unidentified band of armed individuals in Cameroon, according to a statement from his religious organization.
Huub Welters and his assistant Henry Kang were taken on Tuesday, April 1, in Bambui, a community situated in the nation’s northwest, an anglophone area plagued by separatist strife.
The duo was traveling to a site to construct classrooms for disadvantaged youngsters in the nearby village of Ilung, as reported by The Catholic Mill Hill Missionary.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the London-headquartered Catholic missionary group noted that Mr. Welters had endured his initial night as a captive, though they remained clueless about his whereabouts.
They expressed worries about his ‘fragile health’, mentioning that he has recently experienced multiple joint replacements and a spinal surgery.
The missionary group further stated that Mr. Kang has a spouse and kids who are ‘waiting in agony’ and hoping fervently for his unharmed return.
African Conscience, a non-governmental organization reached by AFP, indicated its suspicion that the pair had been kidnapped by separatist combatants.
‘The authorities of the Archdiocese are currently working for their release,’ the NGO elaborated. ‘We pray. We plead. We wait.’
The Catholic Mill Hill Missionary shared on their website: ‘[Mr Welters] He has given everything, his time, his energy, his very being, to serve the people he loves.
‘And yet, today, he finds himself tormented by the very ones he has spent a lifetime caring for.’
They went on: ‘At his age, he should be at home, resting, surrounded by the warmth of cherished memories from his decades of selfless service.
‘Instead, he chose to stay; because his heart simply wouldn’t allow him to walk away from those in need. And now, his kindness, his sacrifice, his love have been met with violence and suffering.’
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli