Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - A deacon was released by his captors through the mobilization of the population in a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Godefroid Paluku was kidnapped on November 18 on the Kiwanja-Ishasha road in Rutshuru territory (North Kivu), on his way to Goma to buy medicines for the hospital of Nyamilima, where he carries out his apprenticeship.
On the morning of November 19 the inhabitants of Nyamilima took to the streets en masse blocking all the activities in town, to demand the immediate release of the deacon. In the afternoon of the same day, Godefroid Paluku was found safe and sound, and no ransom was paid.
In the "Groupement de Binza", a territorial division of Rutshuru Territory, since early November six people have been abducted and then freed in exchange for a ransom of up to $ 1,500. The families of the abducted are forced to sell all their possessions to put together such a sum.
With their demonstration, the people of Nyamilima wanted to not only secure the release of the deacon, but also to draw the attention of the authorities on this crime. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 21/11/2016)
