From Tom Julien — Wonderful news from Augustin Hibailé this morning:
Daniel has been freed! God explicitly answered our prayers. There was an intervention by a group of armed Fulanis which caused the armed bandits to flee and Daniel took advantage of this to escape and to arrive at the house at Bouar yesterday evening around 5:00. What a miracle!
I was on the phone with Daniel this morning and he said that there were nine bandits, one being Central African and the others Chadian Arabs. They fired on the vehicle, which turned over. Some passengers fled but Daniel was caught in the leg by part of the car. He was therefore taken by the bandits and led with 16 other prisoners into the bush.
According to what he said, the bandits told him he would not be freed because he is a nurse and that he would be kept captive even if a large ransom was paid, in order to care for their health. Since he has not returned (to Bangui) yet, he was only able to give me this brief information.
There was also a case of the kidnapping of three doctors plus three health technicians on the road from Bozoum to Bangui last Sunday. The bandits asked for the sum of 16 million CFAs (around $35,000) before freeing those detained. Pray that God will save the CAR from this growing insecurity.
Daniel asked me to thank all those who have supported him by their prayers. He sensed the power of these prayers and that it is because of this that his life was saved and that he has returned to his family.
Thank you, thank you, and thank you for this important support.
Augustin Hibailé