Cameroon President, Paul Biya has disclosed that the group of Chinese and Cameroonians who were recently released after being taken hostage in Waza and Fotokol by terrorist insurgents in May and July respectively “suffered detention in appalling conditions.”

Biya made the remark Monday during a brief but touching ceremony at unity Palace to welcome the 10 Chinese hostages and 17 Cameroon men, women and children kidnapped, amongst who was Madam Ali and the Lamido of Fotokol.

“I cannot hide the joy we feel to have you back safely. Mme Ali is with us again, the Lamido of Kolofata and all their families. You have shown courage, endurance, belief in God; that’s what saved you,” Biya told the erstwhile hostages, before adding that their release is also thanks in part to the Cameroonian army fighting courageously night and day to ensure the reign of peace and stability.

“We wish you a safe return to your families and your country,” Biya said while at the same time assuring the ex-hostages that “the Government of Cameroon will continue to relentlessly fight Boko Haram to its total eradication.”

Also speaking at the Ceremony attended by Vice Prime Minister Ahmadou Ali, the Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh and the Assistant Director of the Civil Cabinet Joseph Le, was the Chinese Ambassador to Cameroon. Ambassador Wo Rui Di thanked the Presidents of China and Cameroon for their tireless efforts which ended with the liberation of the hostages.

The hostages were kidnapped during two separate incidents, both in Cameroon’s Far North. The Chinese workers were abducted on May 16 from a construction camp site near the town of Waza amid gunfire that killed a Cameroonian soldier while the 17 Cameroonians were captured on July 27 during attacks around Kolofata that left 15 dead.

Though the Biya administration has maintained that they merely negotiated with the terrorist group emphasizing that no ransom was paid to the militants, New York based Sahara Reporters which first reported the news of the hostages’ release, reported Sunday that Cameroonian authorities paid Boko Haram terrorists at least $400,000 (over FCFA 200 million) in ransom to secure the release of Amadou Ali’s wife and the rest of the captives.

“The most disturbing part of the deal is that Boko Haram militants demanded and received a significant supply of arms and ammunition, including a guarantee by Cameroon that the weapons would have safe passage to insurgent fighters. Our source disclosed that President Idris Derby of Chad was instrumental in the negotiations because of his closeness to some Boko Haram commander,” Reported Sahara Reporters.