Islamist militant group Boko Haram has released 27 hostages including 10 Chinese workers and the wife of Cameroon's vice-Prime Minister Amadou Ali, according to a statement from Cameroon President Paul Biya’s office.
The hostages were released on Saturday morning and are now "safe and sound", said the statement. Although Cameroon publicly states it does not pay ransoms to secure the release of hostages, no details have been given on the negotiations or conditions behind the release.
The Chinese workers were kidnapped in May, whilst the vice-Prime Minister's wife was abducted after 200 Boko Haram fighters stormed his residence in July. At least 5 people were killed in the attack.
Boko Haram has allegedly killed dozens in cross-border attacks into Cameroon. Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad and Niger formed a regional 2,800-troop task force to tackle the group. Boko Haram is currently engaged in heavy fighting with the Nigerian military, after capturing several towns across the North-East of the country.