SW News: The Haitian police have confirmed that the remaining 12 hostages out of the 17 missionaries who were kidnapped two months ago have been released. Police spokesperson Garry Desrosiers said on December 16 that the 12 hostages were released by the dreaded 400 Mawozo gang the same day.

It was on October 16, that 16 American missionaries and their families and one Canadian were kidnapped at gunpoint in Haiti. The missionaries belonged to the Ohio-based Anabaptist organization Christian Aid Ministries. The group was engaged in building an orphanage in Fond Parisien. It later became evident that the notorious 400 Mawozo gang was behind the abduction. The same gang was also involved in the kidnapping of 10 Catholics, including priests and nuns in April this year.

The gang released a video in October in which they demanded a ransom of one million US dollars for each of the hostages. Two hostages were released in November end and three more were freed on December 6. Announcing the release, Christian Aid Ministries confirmed that all seventeen are safe. In a statement released on December 16, the organization thanked everyone for their “fervent prayers throughout the past two months”.

However, it is not clear if any ransom was paid to secure the release of the missionaries.