British Catholic missionary, 83, and his assistant are 'brutally abducted' by 'unknown armed men' in Cameroon

An 83-year-old British missionary and his adjunct person been brutally abducted by an chartless radical of equipped men successful Cameroon, his religion radical has said. 

Huub Welters and adjunct Henry Kang were captured connected Tuesday successful Bambui - a municipality located successful the country's separatist conflict-hit anglophone northwest. 

The brace were on their mode to a task to physique classrooms for underprivileged children successful adjacent Ilung, according to The Catholic Mill Hill Missionary. 

In an update connected Wednesday, the London-based Catholic missionary said Mr Welters had spent his archetypal nighttime successful captivity but they had 'no idea' wherever helium was. 

They raised concerns astir his 'fragile health', saying helium has precocious undergone a bid of associated replacements and a backmost operation. 

The missionary added that Mr Kang has a woman and children who are 'waiting successful agony' and praying for his harmless return.  

African Conscience, an NGO contacted by AFP, said it believed the brace had been abducted by separatist fighters.

'The authorities of the Archdiocese are presently moving for their release,' the NGO added. 'We pray. We plead. We wait.'

The Catholic Mill Hill Missionary posted connected their website: '[Mr Welters] He has fixed everything, his time, his energy, his precise being, to service the radical helium loves. 

'And yet, today, helium finds himself tormented by the precise ones helium has spent a beingness caring for.'

They continued: 'At his age, helium should beryllium astatine home, resting, surrounded by the warmth of cherished memories from his decades of selfless service. 

'Instead, helium chose to stay; due to the fact that his bosom simply wouldn’t let him to locomotion distant from those successful need. And now, his kindness, his sacrifice, his emotion person been met with unit and suffering.'

Kidnapping and unit has go communal successful Cameroon's northwest and southwest regions, which are chiefly populated by an English-speaking minority.

Separatists person regularly targeted and killed civilian servants, including teachers, and elected officials accused of 'collaboration' with the French-speaking cardinal authorities successful Yaounde. 

The service and constabulary are accused of carrying retired punitive raids against radical they impeach of pro-separatist leanings.

The struggle erupted successful precocious 2016 aft President Paul Biya, who has ruled Cameroon unchallenged for 42 years, violently enactment down peaceful demonstrations by Anglophones successful some regions.

At slightest 6,000 civilians person been killed by authorities forces and separatist fighters since the unrest began, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Mill Hill missionaries arrived successful Uganda successful 1895 and person been moving successful Cameroon since 1922.