Kidnapping risks increases in Northeastern, Central CMR

Seven armed assailants kidnapped the director of the East Mines Society, a Chinese national, from Kombo-Koro village, around 40 kilometres from Betare-Oya in eastern Cameroon on 26 September.

The attackers stole USD2,700 and released the director within 24 hours in Gado-Badzere town, around 30 km Garoua-Mboulai, near the border with Central African Republic (CAR).

Cameroonian media reported that the assailants had broken into East Mines Society offices to steal gold bars alleged to be stored there. When they failed to locate them, the attackers kidnapped the company's director and hijacked his vehicle.

This incident took place outside North, Far North and Adamaoua provinces where the risk of expatriates being kidnapped are increasing as a result of insurgencies in neighbouring CAR and Nigeria.