Boko Haram, a terrorist group, has abducted 13 people in Cameroon’s Far North region, local sources said Friday.
The hostages, including women and children, were abducted Wednesday night in the Gore Kendi locality of the region as they were celebrating Eid al-Adha, one of the most celebrated festivals on the Islamic calendar.
“We only learned today (Friday) that they (hostages) are with Boko Haram. Boko Haram is demanding that we pay 10 million xaf (about 16,500 U.S. dollars) for their release,” a family member of one hostage told Xinhua by phone on condition of anonymity.
Security forces have begun an operation to rescue the hostages, a military source said.
Boko Haram has been operating in Cameroon’s Far North region since 2014.
XINHUA
