Saturday, April 5, 2014

Two Priests, One Nun Kidnapped in Cameroon; Nabbed Near Nigeria, Boko Haram Suspected

Two Italian priests and a Canadian nun were abducted early today (April 5, 2014) from their mission in northern Cameroon, the Italian government and Vatican officials said, according to the NY Times website.

The Italian Foreign Ministry identified the priests as Giampaolo Marta and Gianantonio Allegri. A Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Ciro Benedettini, said the priests were from the Vicenza diocese in northern Italy.

Bishop Phillippe Stevens of the parish of Maroua, Cameroon, identified the nun as Gilberte Bissiere. He said the three were taken by "unknown people" who broke open the doors of their residences.

The Rev. Henri Djongang -- the vicar general of Maroua -- said the kidnapping took place near Maroua in the village of Tchere, 37 miles from the border with Nigeria. No one has claimed responsibility for the kidnappings, although Boko Haram -- an Islamist militant group based in Nigeria -- has often operated in the area.

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