BOKO HARAM FREES 27 HOSTAGES

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya said on Friday night that 27 hostages, including 10 Chinese workers, held by suspected Boko Haram insurgents had been released.

Also freed was the wife of Cameroon’s Vice-Prime Minister, Amadou Ali, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported.

President Biya, in a statement on the state radio, said the hostages, seized close to the Nigeria border in May and July, were safe.

Boko Haram is seeking to establish an Islamist state in Nigeria but its fighters often cross the long and porous border with Cameroon.

Many Nigerian civilians in border towns have fled to Cameroon to escape Boko Haram attacks, which have been stepped up in recent months.

In July, Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad and Niger agreed to form a 2,800-strong regional force to tackle the Boko Haram insurgents.

Cameroon has reinforced its troops in its northern regions.

Biya said in the state radio broadcast, “The 27 hostages kidnapped on May 16, 2014, at Waza and on July 27, 2014, at Kolofata were given this night to Cameroonian authorities.

“Ten Chinese, the wife of the Vice Prime Minister Amadou Ali, the Lamido (a local religious leader) of Kolofata, and the members of their families kidnapped with them are safe.”

No details were given on the circumstances of the release.