Seventeen American and Canadian Christian missionaries and members of their families have been abducted in Haiti.
The missionaries comprise 16 U.S. citizens and one Canadian citizen. The breakdown shows they were five men, seven women and five children.
The victims were travelling to Titanyen after visiting an orphanage in the Croix des Bouquets section of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, on 16 October when they were abducted, the Christian Aid Ministries, said.
The Ohio, United States-based group said they are being held by the armed gang and requested for prayers.
“The group of sixteen US citizens and one Canadian citizen includes five men, seven women, and five children. We are seeking God’s direction for a resolution, and authorities are seeking ways to help,” the group said.
It also said the mission field director and the American embassy are working to see what can be done, “Pray that the gang members will come to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.”
A spokesperson of the Department of State said, “The welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad is one of the highest priorities of the Department of State. We are aware of these reports and have nothing additional to offer at this time.”
Unconfirmed reports have linked the abduction to “400 Mawaozo” gang.
The incident comes a day after the UN Security Council voted to extend the mandate of the UN mission in Haiti by nine months, until July.
Christian Post reports that there has been an upsurge in crime in Haiti since 2020.
No fewer than 1,380 killings occurred in the country in that year alone.
This year, there have been 628 kidnapping cases, out of which 29 victims were foreigners
Watchdog group, Fondasyon Je Klere reported that there are over 150 gangs operating in the country.