Three hostages freed in Southwest Cameroon

The Cameroonian army has released three hostages in the South West of the country.

The three include a Tunisian and two Cameroonians ,employees of a road construction company abducted by English-speaking separatists on March 15.

The operation which led to the death of a Tunisian engineer,also led to four attackers neutralized.

Confirming the incident, Issa Tchiroma Minister for Communication said: “Our armed forces fought a battle during which they liberated those of our Tunisian compatriots and friends who were taken hostage by the terrorists.

“Unfortunately on the occasion of this event, a Tunisian technician lost his life, but we saved another Tunisian technician and two Cameroonians,” he added.

The remains of the victim and the released hostages were flown to Yaoundé. The Cameroonian government commiserated with the Tunisian government during the difficult time.

“The Minister of Defense, myself and the Secretary of State, accompanied the Tunisian officials who came to find out what happened to their compatriots.

“… I therefore take this opportunity to say on behalf of the government, we extend our condolences to the Tunisian government for this ordeal,” Tchiroma said.

This operation comes just few days after a previous one that led to the release of a senior Cameroonian official who was also kidnapped in the south-west of the country last Saturday.

Africanews correspondent