TITANYEN, Haiti — Efforts continue in Haiti to negotiate the release of 17 missionaries from Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries. The group, which is supported by Mennonite, Amish and other groups who are part of the Anabaptist tradition, has sent missionaries to serve in Haiti since the late 1980s.
The group, including five children, was kidnapped Oct. 16 in Titanyen, north of Port-au-Prince. Sixteen members of the team are American and one is Canadian. The group’s driver, who is a man local to the area, also was taken. According to the Associated Press, the leader of the gang police believe is responsible for the kidnapping has threatened to kill the hostages if his demands are not met.
The ransom demand stood at $1 million per person and the FBI and other U.S. agencies were involved in attempting to free the group, AP reported.
Reports indicate kidnappings by various gangs in Haiti are common with more than 100 people having fallen victim to kidnappings so far this year.
