Port-au-Prince, Haiti. 17th Sep 2019. Protesters set on fire a barricade during protests at a street in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 17 September 2019. The capital and several provincial cities of Haiti lived on Tuesday the second day followed by protests again
NEW YORK (77WABC) – An armed gang in Haiti is demanding a $17 million ransom for the 17 American and Canadian missionaries being held, hostage. The gang is reportedly charging $1 million for each person held captive.
One Canadian and 16 Americans were kidnapped on Saturday by the “400 Mawozo” gang following a visit to an orphanage in Croix-des-Bouquets, a northeast suburb outside the nation’s capital city of Port-au-Prince, which is part of the region controlled by the kidnappers.
Justice Minister Liszt Quitel confirmed the FBI and Haitian police have since made contact with the gang. He told the Wall Street Journal on Monday it could take weeks to negotiate their release.
The victims are affiliated with the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries, which confirmed their kidnapping in a statement on Sunday. They said the group was made up of five men, seven women, and five children, including an 8-month baby. The others are 3, 6, 14, and 15 years old. The organization requested “urgent prayer” for the hostages.
“We are seeking God’s direction for a resolution, and authorities are seeking ways to help,” the organization said. “Join us in praying for those who are being held hostage, the kidnappers, and the families, friends, and churches of those affected.”
“Please pray for us!! We are being held hostage, they kidnapped our driver,” the person wrote, according to the Washington Post. “Pray pray pray. We don’t know where they are taking us.”
