Priest Freed in Babessi

Father John Berinyuy​ Tatah, ⁤the parish priest of Babessi in southwestern Cameroon, has been released after being abducted ‍on November 15th. He was taken alongside his vicar, though the vicar was released several days prior.

Archdiocese Response and Initial abduction

The release came shortly after a deadline set by Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Bamenda, who warned of‌ potential closures of Catholic institutions in‌ the region if Father John was not freed by ⁤November 26th. ​ Prior to the deadline, the archdiocese‍ organized a peaceful demonstration calling for his safe return.

Father John ​and his ⁣vicar were initially abducted⁣ on November 15th while traveling home from a Mass celebrating the inauguration of ⁣the PAX institute‌ at the​ University of Ndop. The‍ abduction occured ‍in Baba I,approximately 60 kilometers from Bamenda,near Babessi,by individuals identifying as separatist fighters​ from Ambazonia.

Negotiations and ⁢Subsequent Captures

Following the initial abduction,four additional priests and a layman were taken captive on November 18th,reportedly to facilitate negotiations for Father John’s release. These five ⁤individuals were ⁢released on November 20th, but Father John remained in the hands of his captors.

Circumstances of ⁤Release and Call for Dialogue

Details surrounding Father John’s release have not been publicly disclosed. However, the Ambazonian rebels who ‍held him posted a video to Facebook in which he appealed for dialogue to resolve the ongoing crisis in ‍cameroon’s English-speaking regions.