The President of the Republic His Excellency Paul BIYA granted audience on Tuesday to the Catholic religious leaders just released by abductors who took them at Tchere in the Far North Region.

Sister Gilberte Bussiere, of Canadian nationality, Fathers Gianantonio Alligri and Giampaolo Marta, of Italian nationality, who were released last Sunday, were received at the audience in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio, His Lordship Piero Pioppo, and the respective representatives of their countries, the High commissioner for Canada to Cameroon, Benoit Pierre Laramee and the Italian Ambassador, Stefano Pontesili.

After the audience that lasted over forty minutes, the three former hostages came out smiling and visibly happy that they met with the Cameroonian Head of State.

The Representatives of the two countries, speaking to the press on behalf of the former hostages, expressed their gratitude to the Government and people of Cameroon for the exceptional work that had been done to have them free and safe. The Italian Ambassador announced that the three former hostages will leave Cameroon in the coming days, on the request of their various congregations. He indicated that the Head of State bid them farewell.

The Diplomats gave assurances that the three former hostages will always have Cameroon at heart.

The Canadian Sister Gilberte Bussiere, who is 74 years old, is a member of Our Ladies congregation and has been in Cameroon for 25 years during which she helped the poor and needy in the Maroua-Mokolo diocese.