Two men have been freed by Chadian security forces after being abducted near the Cameroonian border in a region long plagued by kidnappings for ransom.
The hostages – the village chief of Travaux and a resident of Koutak – were seized by a group of eight armed kidnappers who were attempting to forcefully take them into Cameroon.
Their release on Saturday, August 23, brought a wave of relief to communities in Mayo-Kebbi West, where abductions have created a climate of fear for years.
The rescue operation was made possible after the secretary of the abducted village chief alerted local authorities, enabling defense and security forces to intercept the kidnappers before they crossed the border.
During a government-organized ceremony in N’Djamena, the two former hostages recounted their ordeal, describing how the armed group had been advancing on foot when they were stopped.
The prefect of Nanaye, Kalmaibé Maye Romkeuh, praised the swift action of the forces involved, saying their response had prevented the hostages from “disappearing into the hands of their captors” across the border.
Mayo-Kebbi West, which shares a porous frontier with Cameroon, has seen repeated cases of kidnappings for ransom over the past several years despite ongoing security operations. These incidents have disrupted daily life for residents, many of whom live under the constant threat of abduction.
Government delegate Abdelmanane Katab vowed that the pursuit of the kidnappers would continue, describing the operation as part of a broader effort to curb cross-border criminal activity. However, he admitted that the fight was complicated by the inability of Chadian forces to operate beyond their national boundary once the criminals escape into Cameroon.
The incident underscores the persistent security challenges faced by border communities in the region, where armed groups exploit weak cross-border controls to conduct abductions and extortion.
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