Joy and anxiety were visible on the faces of the Chinese and Cameroonians who were last Saturday flown to Yaounde following their release from the extremist Boko Haram sect on Friday 10 October 2014. Receiving the 27 former hostages in a brief but emotional State House ceremony, President Paul Biya lauded their bravery and courage, saying those values accounted for their survival during the horrendous ordeal they suffered since their painful disappearance in May for the ten Chinese and July, for the 17 Cameroonians.

“Mrs Ali, the Lamido of Kolofata and his family are finally here with us,” the Head of State said in an improvised speech. He pointed out that the joy being expressed was in sharp contrast to the pain and anxiety which characterised the nation during their captivity.

President Biya took advantage of the ceremony to reiterate the country’s determination to combat the extremists until they are completely eradicated. He praised valiant national defence forces for the merciless war they have been waging against Boko Haram and appreciated the supportive role of the population of the Far North Region to the soldiers. He said despite the hardship that the people were facing in the hands of the terrorists; they have continued to remain steadfast.

Addressing the Chinese, the Head of State also lauded their courage and determination as factors that accounted for their survival in the hands of their captors in spite of the horrible detention conditions to which they were subjected. President Biya told the Chinese Ambassador how happy he was to return his countrymen to him safe and sound.

For his part, the Chinese Ambassador to Cameroon, Wo Ruidi, thanked President Paul Biya for the tact and diplomatic finesse used in obtaining the release of the hostages. He noted that China remained opposed to any form of terrorism and promised China’s support to any effort to stamp out all forms of violence.
To make the former captives feel fully at home, the Head of State, on arrival in the Banquet Hall of the Unity Palace at 12 noon where they were already waiting, had a handshake with each of them. All 10 Chinese and 17 Cameroonians who included six women, three kids, the Lamido of Kolofata and seven others, happily shook hands with Mr Biya before listening to the words of encouragement from the President and Ambassador Wo Ruidi. They shared drinks and some niceties before the Head of State again shook their hands for a final goodbye.

The 10 Chinese were abducted on the night of 16-17 May 2014 in Waza while the 17 Cameroonians suffered the same fate on the 27 July 2014 in Kolofata.

Present at the Unity Palace ceremony which lasted 20 minutes, were Vice Prime Minister, Minister Delegate at the Presidency in Charge of Relations with the Assemblies, Amadou Ali, the Minister, Secretary General at the Presidency, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh and the Assistant Director of the Civil Cabinet of the President of the Republic, Joseph LE.