Seleka denies abducting 16 Cameroonians

The Democratic Front for the Central African People (FDPC), a nonaligned group of Seleka rebellion led by General Abdoulaye Miskine, has denied reports of the kidnapping of 16 people including the mayor of Lafdo (North) Mama Abakai on the night of Thursday to Friday in the Babio, near the CAR border.

In a statement issued last Sunday and copied to APA, the group said it had “nothing to do with the hostage and not in any way involved. And besides, why should we do this?”, asked in the statement signed by Colonel Pierre Yakoua who presents himself as FDPC defense minister.

Colonel Pierre Yakoua implicitly acknowledged that his group had to make the taking of hostages on Cameroonian territory but swore against the JPDF that they had never shed Cameroonian blood, mistreated or demanded ransom hostages. Instead they accused the Cameroonian government of hypocrisy.

“In fact, every time we were the masterminds of kidnappings in Cameroon, we inform the authorities of our actions and the reasons that pushed us to act before they know about it”.

To his spokesman, FDPC is not a terrorist movement or a group of drug traffickers, bandits or an association of adventurers.

Peter Yakoua pointed an accusing finger at the power of Yaoundé stating that, “Despite our good will, the Cameroonian authorities are not sincere with us. The latter prefer to listen and play the game some Central African politicians involve themselves in. It is in this context that our General had been arrested in this country when he went there for treatment."

“In late November, the Central African rebel leader Abdoulaye Miskine, held in Cameroon, was released and conveyed to Congo - Brazzaville aboard a special plane at the end of 14 months and 2 weeks capture”, his group recalled.

His real name Martin Koumtamadji, FDPC leader is the head of a faction of the Seleka introducing the Michel Djotodia ruling in Bangui in March 2013.
He was arrested at Bertoua (east) in September, following several atrocities attributed to his group in Cameroonian territory and then transferred to the capital, Yaoundé.

It should be recalled that his extradition to Brazzaville came a day after 16 Cameroonian citizens and the Polish priest, Mateusz Dziedzic were freed by the Central African rebels.

The release of Abdoulaye Miskine was one of the demands of his rebels who were against the exchange of hostages.

Cameroon Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, stated on Saturday April 25, 2015 that the security forces of the country, under the supervision of the commander of the Eastern gendarmerie legion, were working hard to find the 16 Babio hostages.

These passengers of a bus transit were ambushed by men in shattered French territory, which some suggested were part of the multiple rebellions CAR that roamed the border area.