Dr Aleksandra and Brother Carlos freed from the hands of kidnappers in Chad

Having quickly tracked down the group of armed kidnappers who had fled on motorbikes, there was an initial attempt to free the kidnapped persons; by the time the security forces arrived, Dr Carlos had been made to get off the motorbike momentarily; this allowed him to throw himself to the ground when the police arrived, while the other motorbike unfortunately managed to get away with the kidnapped volunteer. It seems that the criminals had informed the two abductees to stay calm because the purpose of their kidnapping was only to demand a ransom.

Bro. Salgado, although shaken, was thus able to return to Dono Manga immediately: he is well and has resumed his duties as a doctor. It took several days for the joint effort of the security apparatus, aided by a contingent of French troops, to free the second hostage, Dr Kuligowska, who was fortunately unharmed.

Throughout these days, we have observed a prudent silence so as not to interfere in a delicate phase of the investigations and interventions that led to the release of the two kidnapped persons. We prayed for the successful outcome of the search and rescue operation and we thank the Lord for the safety of our brother and the volunteer; we also thank all those who mobilised to achieve the result for which we are grateful today. We express all our solidarity with the confreres and staff of the Hospital, all the confreras and sisters of the Tchad delegation and the families of Dr Carlos and the volunteers working there; we pray that what has happened will remain an isolated incident.

The General Council of the MCCJ