Kidnapped mayor of Lagdo sends a distress call

Mayor of Lagdo, Mama Abakai has sent a distress call to the Cameroonian government. Detained for over four months, Mama Abakai did not understand why Yaounde has not negotiated their release.

"The government took the initiative to contact the attackers since Wednesday but so far they have not responded. We are in a very critical situation. We are between life and death. We are 16 detainees and we come to you so that the information can be published everywhere for the government to help release us. Such cases were experienced elsewhere and the government struggled to break the captives free. We have spent four months and 10 days today in captivity. Please bring us relief through the net, through the information so that people can be aware of us and the government to take responsibility because they took us when we were working for government" regrets Mama Abakai in an audio recording.

To the hostage Mayor, their release is simple: Aboubakar Sidiki should be released with 11 accomplices who are in custody in Yaoundé. "The attackers demanded the release of their leader, Aboubakar Sidiki, who is detained in Cameroon, and 11 elements for our liberation. The government does not want to react, and it means that we are being sacrificed and we need your assistance," informs the Mayor.

According Mama Abakai, the situation is very critical for the 16 hostages, including four women. "Some of the hostages are already sick and do not have enough water or food. They wander all day long in the bush. We have been held so far by the elements of Aboubakar Sidiki. I do not know where we are because we only walk in the bush, and every week we move for four months. We are really in a terrible situation, we are sick, we are given half a litre of water a day, we are given a meal once a day, and we are completely finished. Many have already started developing certain diseases such as gout, hypertension, diabetes. We have with us four women, even women leaders of our party in Cameroon, and councilors," he explains.

On an alarming voice, the Mayor of Lagdo said they are being sacrificed the Cameroonian government as they are in detention because Aboubakar Sidiki and his 11 members are under arrest in Yaounde. "We sent a distress call to get the government to save us. We are being sacrificed because the government after four months, is not seeking for our freedom. The government has not started negotiations. They had given appointments to the heads of our attackers on Wednesday at 10 am, and until that day, the government did nothing. This is not possible !" Concluded the Mayor.